Abstract Acetogenins are secondary metabolites derived from the polyketide pathway and their potential role as chemotaxonomical markers for red algae belonging to the Laurencia complex has been long pointed out. C15 acetogenins from algae are quite different from plant acetogenins: they are usually halogenated, and have an enyne or a bromoallene terminal group. Since they were first reported, laurencin and other algal acetogenins have inspired great curiosity among natural product chemists and also those working with synthesis. This paper reviews the literature about C15 acetogenins, focusing on their distribution, chemical and biological aspects, including their reported biological activities.