ABSTRACT
Dictyotaceae are a rich source of secondary metabolites, especially terpenes. These natural products have been studied for their bioactivity for human and for their ecological role in nature. The present work highlights de diversity of the Dictyotaceae terpenes, emphasizing their bioactivities and the biogeography of their sources. The sesquiterpenes are found in Padina, Dictyopteris and Taonia. Although Dictyopteris and Padina can be found in all oceans, Taonia has a more restricted distribution. Diterpenes of mixed origin have been reported in Lobophora, Taonia and Stypopodium. Stypopodium is a typically tropical and warm temperate genus. Diterpenes with the spatane and seco-spatanes skeletons are known from Spatoglossum, Stoechospermum and Rugulopteryx. Spatoglossum is distributed over all the tropical marine world. Stoechospermum is known to occur in the Indian Ocean and Rugulopteryx is distributed mainly in Asia and on the Pacific Coast of Australia. The genus Dictyota contains diterpenes as the major metabolite and are present in all oceans, reaching even the cold temperate regions of northern and southern hemispheres. The terpenoids from Dictyotaceae exhibit bioactivities such as inhibition of herbivores and antifungal, cytotoxic, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, insecticidal and antiviral activities.