ABSTRACT
Microbial products, whether due to their enzymes or the very diverse natural metabolites, have been contributing to human life in every sphere. More importantly, the emerging developments in genetic engineering have launched more cost-effective and ecofriendly microbial products with lesser side effects. Numerous such products have proved their significance and are now being marketed for use in primary and secondary healthcare systems. Microbial enzymes (for example, glucose oxidases and alkaline phosphatases) are often used in diagnostic kits. Serratiopeptidases and collagenases are respectively used as anti-inflammatory and wound-healing drugs. Several of their metabolites have found widespread applications as therapeutic agents. For example, commonly prescribed antibiotics, including cephalosporin, gentamicin and penicillin, and immunosuppressants like cyclosporine A and lipstatin (human lipase inhibitor), all have been sourced from microbes. More products like these will be developed and commercialized in the near future.
