Fungal pigments: Secondary metabolites and their application

Nature is full of colors. In this chapter, fungal pigments exhibit a wide range of applications. The color palette beautifully creates attraction among the scientists. Inorganic and chemically synthesized dyes are popular due to their low cost and flexibility in production modes, but health and the environment discourage their uses. So, the concern leads to natural biopigments. The extraction and usage of natural biopigments are eco-friendly in nature because inorganic pigments are toxic and composed of heavy metals. The range of mycopigments includes carotenoids, flavonoids, indigo, melanins, monascins, phycocyanin, quinones, and violacein. Fungal pigments have many characteristics, like low environmental impacts, viability, profitability, and ease of handling. Secretion of mycelium pigment is influenced by nutritional (growth) and environmental factors. These biopigments are widely used in wood-dying, pharmaceutical, food, textile, and cosmetic industries. These are antimicrobial and act as a (biotic) stress reliever. The fungal pigments play an important role in their lives, e.g., coloration of Ascomycetes (Asci) and Basidiomycetes. The conclusion of this chapter is that we have to prefer fungus species as a source of colorants rather than synthetic one (which lead to health problems and environmental pollution).