The genus Dictyota (Dictyotales, Phaeophyceae) comprises parenchymatous algae occurring predominantly in tropical to warm-temperate waters and has gathered attention due to its diverse secondary metabolites with antibiofouling and pharmaceutical potential, its oil content, and its potential as animal feed. This has resulted in an increase in economic potential during the last decade. In this review, we summarise the recent knowledge on the genus and concentrate on the applications and the economic potential of Dictyota. In addition, the review summarises the taxonomy, anatomy, cytology, genetic data, life history, chemical composition, nutritional value and ecological and economic importance of Dictyota species. Currently, around 100 species are recognised together with the morphologically similar and closely related genera Dilophus, Canistrocarpus and Rugulopteryx (tribus Dictyoteae). The thallus is characterised by one or more lens-shaped apical cells that divide into cortical and medullary cell layers. Species typically grow in rocky intertidal pools and subtidal areas. Dictyota is consumed locally in the Caribbean, Malayan-Indonesian and Hawaiian regions. Extracts of Dictyota which contain active compounds, such as diterpenes and phlorotannins, have been attributed antimicrobial, health and wellness promoting effects which render them promising candidates for the design of functional foods, phytomedicinal products, and cosmetics. The high fraction of lipids and fatty acids has propelled emerging applications in the biofuel industry and as a feedstock species. |
