Prospects of Microbial Bio‐surfactants To Endorse Prolonged Conservation in the Pharmaceutical and Agriculture Industries

Abstract

AbstractChemical surfactants have raised concerns due to their negative impact on ecosystems, prompting the search for eco‐friendly alternatives. Biosurfactants derived from microorganisms offer a promising solution. These biomolecules are less harmful and can replace toxic pesticide surfactants. Biosurfactants have shown potential in agriculture for food digestion, crop protection, soil fertility, disease management, antibacterial properties, and biofilm prevention. They eliminate plant‐pathogens and improve nutrient availability, supporting plant‐growth. Rhamnolipids, produced by Pseudomonas, reduce surface tension, are used as wetting agents and emulsifiers in agriculture, and antimicrobial and anti‐inflammatory medications. Surfactin, a biosurfactant from Bacillus subtilis, improves plant development, controls plant diseases, and fights pathogens and diseases. Candida bombicola yeast produces sophorolipids, biodegradable surfactants with antibacterial, anticancer, and anti‐inflammatory properties. Pseudozyma yeast produces mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs), which biocontrol fungus and have antibacterial, anticancer, and immunomodulatory activities. Biosurfactants also hold potential in pharmaceuticals, functioning as antioxidants, exhibiting antibacterial and anticancer activities, and acting as drug‐delivery systems. However, challenges in biosurfactant production include varying research methods, limited production organism sources, and cost implications for large‐scale manufacturing. This mini‐review explores microbiologically produced biosurfactants, their regulatory parameters, their applications in optimizing soil health and controlling plant infections, and their potential roles in the pharmaceutical sector.