Harnessing Leptolyngbya for antiproliferative and antimicrobial metabolites through lens of modern techniques: A review

Abstract

Cancer and antimicrobial resistance are pressing global health concerns, with cancer ranking as a foremost reason of death across the world, estimated to be about 10 million in 2020, while antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat, with projected deaths attributed to AMR set to exceed 10 million by 2050. Recent research has highlighted Actinomyces, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Cyanobacteria as promising sources of therapeutic compounds. Among cyanobacteria, the genus Leptolyngbya has garnered relatively less attention. Leptolyngbya is a polyphyletic in nature and widely distributed across various ecosystems. Although over 140 species have been identified within this genus, its systematic position has only recently been clarified. Leptolyngbya's diverse metabolite spectrum, including compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiproliferative properties, as discussed in this review, makes it a valuable candidate for drug discovery. However, challenges in laboratory cultivation have hindered the identification of novel metabolites from Leptolyngbya, which would have been otherwise discovered. Hence, this article focuses on the antiproliferative and antimicrobial activities of the diverse genus Leptolyngbya, as well as the cutting-edge technologies that have the potential to expand the untapped metabolite spectrum of the genus.