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.

Dictyota属（Dictyotales，Phaeophyceae）包含薄壁藻类，主要发生在热带到温带水域，并且由于其具有抗生物结垢和药用潜力的次生代谢产物多样，含油量高以及作为动物饲料的潜力而备受关注。在过去十年中，这导致了经济潜力的增长。在这篇综述中，我们总结了有关该属的最新知识，并集中于Dictyota的应用和经济潜力。此外，该综述总结了鼠尾草的分类学，解剖学，细胞学，遗传数据，生活史，化学成分，营养价值以及生态和经济重要性。种类。目前，与形态相似且密切相关的双翅目属，犬Ru属和Rugulopteryx属（Dictyoteae）一起被识别出约100种。丘疹的特征是一个或多个晶状的根尖细胞，分为皮层和髓质细胞层。物种通常生长在多岩石的潮间带和潮下带区域。Dictyota在加勒比，马来亚-印度尼西亚和夏威夷地区本地消费。鼠疫提取物含有活性化合物（例如二萜和间苯二酚）的抗菌，健康和促进健康的功效，使其成为功能食品，植物药和化妆品设计的有希望的候选者。高含量的脂质和脂肪酸推动了在生物燃料工业中以及作为原料的新兴应用。