Pigments from Marine Fungi A Sustainable Approach for Food Applications

The increasing consumer demand for natural, sustainable food colorants has increased scientific interest in marine fungal pigments due to their vibrant hues and bioactivity. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the biotechnological potential of marine fungi as a new source of functional pigments for food applications. Marine fungi, such as Talaromyces, Aspergillus, and Penicillium, are widely spread in marine ecosystems and produce structurally unique pigments, including polyketides (anthraquinones and azaphilones), carotenoids, and melanins, which possess antioxidant, antimicrobial, and photoprotective properties. These metabolites not only enhance the visual appeal of foods but also help extend shelf life and promote health, aligning with the trend towards functional foods. Key findings from recent literature highlight the biosynthetic versatility of marine fungi and their capacity to produce pigments on a scalable basis through submerged and solid-state fermentation, often utilizing agro-industrial waste substrates. Omics-based approaches, particularly genome mining and transcriptomics, have identified biosynthetic gene clusters responsible for pigment production. Advances in fermentation and extraction technologies have also improved yield and purity. Regulatory pathways for food-grade fungal pigments remain challenging as they require comprehensive toxicological assessment and alignment with frameworks such as Generally Recognized as Safe and Novel Foods. Nevertheless, initial applications in dairy, beverage, and meat systems show promising sensory and functional results. Future directions include metabolic engineering and synthetic biology to optimize metabolic pathways, as well as industrial-scale-up strategies that integrate pigment production into circular economy models. Marine fungal pigments are a great alternative as next-generation colorants that meet the dual goals of naturality and functionality in the food industry.