Edible seaweed is a worthwhile source of natural pigments such as carotenoids, chlorophylls, and phycobiliproteins, and these functional ingredients have been well-acknowledged due to their beneficial therapeutic properties. These natural pigments show valuable biological properties such as neuroprotective, anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-angiogenic, and antiobesity activities. The present review paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent studies on the green extraction of natural pigments, their therapeutic values, potential technofunctional properties in food products, and their role in intelligent food packaging systems. The combination of biodegradable polymers with natural food colorants investigated perfectly fits the current trends in the packaging industry. The proposed materials are environmentally friendly and fully degradable thanks to the use of a polymer matrix of biodegradable aliphatic polyesters. Thanks to the addition of dyes, the samples have the characteristics of intelligent materials, because they undergo a very distinct color change under the influence of various external factors. Pigments which were obtained from seaweed sources such as spirulina and astaxanthin are a worthwhile source of bioactive compounds, could be used to prepare novel functional food ingredients, and are also a promising approach for treating or preventing chronic diseases. These pigments show numerous beneficial therapeutic activities, including anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-obesity, antiinflammatory, anti-bacterial, neuroprotective, and antiangiogenic. In multiple food industries, natural pigments are often used as food colorants. Due to their potent color and antioxidant attributes, seaweed's biologically active color pigments can replace synthetic sources. Therefore, natural pigments as additive or indicator-based packaging films will likely evolve in one of the forthcoming research directions due to their multifunctional application.
