Genus Fusarium as prospective cellular factories for production of natural pigments: A comprehensive review

The demand for natural pigments has increased in recent decades due to growing preference for natural over synthetic colourants owing to their eco-friendly and safe properties. Filamentous fungi have emerged as promising sources of diverse secondary metabolites including colour-rich pigments with a wide range of applications. Among filamentous fungi, the genus Fusarium is recognised not only for its phytopathogenicity and mycotoxin production but also as a source of diverse pigments belonging to carotenoids, melanins and polyketides classes such as bikaverin, aurofusarin, rubrofusarin, fusarubin, neurosporaxanthin, javanicin, and bostrycoidin. Beyond their colouring properties, these pigments exhibit bioactive properties such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities. The present review describes fusarial pigments, their chemical structures, biosynthesis and regulation, pharmacological properties and applications. Novel biotechnological approaches and strategies for improving the use of pigment are also summarised. Since Fusarium species are also capable of producing mycotoxins such as trichothecenes, zearalenone, fumonisins, and other emerging toxins, the safety challenges associated with the utilisation of fusarial pigments and the approaches to mitigate mycotoxin contamination are discussed. This review highlights both the opportunities and challenges in developing Fusarium species as sustainable source of natural pigments with industrial relevance.