Bioactive ultraviolet-absorbing compounds derived from cyanobacteria and microalgae

<p>Cyanobacteria are distributed in diverse environments on Earth. They have evolved to synthesize a variety of secondary metabolites to combat and serve as barriers to protect them from distinct environments. Some of these metabolites and compounds exhibit useful physiological activities and are expected to be applied to a wide range of fields, including medicine, agriculture, food, and the cosmetics industry. Due to their photosynthetic ability, cyanobacteria are promising sources for sustainable production of these useful substances. It is expected that future research will lead to the development and efficient production of new compounds. These resources may provide great benefits to our lives and to the environment. This editorial provides an overview of the ultraviolet (UV)-absorbing substances produced by cyanobacteria and discusses future prospects.</p>