Marine bacteria and fungi are also recognized as potential source
of biologically active pigments. Prodiginines (red pigment), carotenes, violacein (violet pigment), and quinones (colored compounds with an aromatic ring) are commercially important natural pigments of marine bacterial origin (Soliev, Hosokawa, & Enomoto, 2011).
A recent report comprehensively revealed a method that could be used for identification and taxonomical evaluation of pigment producing marine bacteria, claiming the method to be a newstep of marine microbial pigment explorations. In fact, fungi are a promising source of food grade pigments, particularly water soluble pigments. Monascus purpureus is a well-known fungus that biosynthesize six major azaphilone pigments.
However, many countries have placed some legal barrier for using Munascus sp. as a source of food colorantwith identification of mycotoxin citrinin, a hepato-nephrotoxic compound, always accompanied with Monascus's pigments.