The aim of the current review is to address updated research on a natural pigment called violacein, with emphasis on its production, biological activity and applications. New information about violacein’s action mechanisms as antitumor agent and about its synergistic action in drug delivery systems has brought new alternatives for anticancer therapy. Thus, violacein is introduced as reliable drug capable of overcoming at least three cancer hallmarks, namely: proliferative signaling, cell death resistance and metastasis. In addition, antimicrobial effects on several microorganisms affecting humans and other animals turn violacein into an attractive drug to combat resistant pathogens. Emphasis is given to effects of violacein combined with different agents, such as antibiotics, anticancer agents and nanoparticles. Although violacein is well-known for many decades, it remains an attractive compound. Thus, research groups have been making continuous effort to help improving its production in recent years, which can surely enable its pharmaceutical and chemical application as multi-task compound, even in the cosmetics and food industries.

Graphic abstract

中文翻译：

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具有潜在应用的多靶点药物：聚光灯下的紫罗兰素

当前审查的目的是解决对称为紫罗兰素的天然色素的最新研究，重点是其生产、生物活性和应用。关于紫罗兰素作为抗肿瘤剂的作用机制及其在药物递送系统中的协同作用的新信息为抗癌治疗带来了新的选择。因此，紫罗兰素被引入作为能够克服至少三个癌症标志的可靠药物，即：增殖信号传导、细胞死亡抵抗和转移。此外，对影响人类和其他动物的几种微生物的抗菌作用使紫罗兰素成为一种有吸引力的药物来对抗耐药病原体。重点介绍了紫罗兰素与不同药剂（如抗生素、抗癌剂和纳米颗粒）联合的效果。尽管紫罗兰素已为人熟知数十年，但它仍然是一种有吸引力的化合物。因此，近年来研究小组一直在不断努力帮助提高其产量，这肯定可以使其作为多任务化合物的制药和化学应用，甚至在化妆品和食品行业中。

图形摘要