An extensive range of pigments including phycobiliproteins are present in algae. 
C-phycocyanin (C-PC), a phycobiliprotein, is one of the key pigments of 
Spirulina, a microalgae used in many countries as a dietary supplement. Algal 
pigments have massive commercial value as natural colorants in nutraceutical, 
cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries, besides their health benefits. At 
present, increasing awareness of harmful effects of synthetic compounds and 
inclination of community towards the usage of natural products have led to the 
exploitation of microalgae as a source of natural pigments/colors. This review 
describes recent findings about the sources and production of C-PC, with 
emphasis on specific techniques for extraction and purification, along with 
potential industrial applications in diagnostics, foods, cosmetics, and 
pharmaceutical industries.