What is sodium alginate?

Sodium alginate (ALG for short) is a linear polysaccharide carbohydrate polymer composed of 1,4-poly-β-D-mannuronic acid and α-L-guluronic acid extracted from brown algae or Sargassum. It is a derivative of alginate, also known as sodium alginate, and is a component from the ocean that contains powerful repair power.

Sodium alginate is a byproduct of extracting iodine and mannitol from kelp or Sargassum of brown algae. Its molecule is composed of β-D-mannuronic acid (β-D-mannuronic, M) and α-L-guluronic acid (α-L-guluronic, G) connected by (1→4) bonds. It is a natural polysaccharide with the stability, solubility, viscosity and safety required for pharmaceutical preparation excipients.

As a natural biopolymer material, sodium alginate is non-toxic, biocompatible and degradable, and is widely used as a carrier material for sustained and controlled release of drugs. It is biodegradable, biocompatible and body-safe, providing strength and flexibility to tissues.

Source and extraction of sodium alginate

Sodium alginate is extracted from kelp or sargassum of brown algae. In the process of extracting iodine and mannitol, sodium alginate is separated as a by-product. This process involves the steps of crushing seaweed, washing and removing impurities, and strong alkaline water extraction.

How to produce sodium alginate?

The production process of sodium alginate mainly includes the steps of crushing seaweed, washing and removing impurities, strong alkaline water extraction, clarifying to obtain crude alginate solution, calcium chloride precipitation, decolorization and deodorization, acid treatment to remove soluble impurities, reacting with sodium carbonate to obtain sodium alginate, and then drying, crushing, and sieving to obtain sodium alginate powder.

What are the benefits of sodium alginate for human health?

Lowering blood lipids
Sodium alginate can reduce the content of triglycerides and cholesterol in human blood, thereby playing a role in lowering blood lipids and helping to prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
Sodium alginate can also inhibit inflammatory reactions and relieve patients' inflammatory symptoms. It is suitable for patients with chronic inflammation.

Sodium alginate is rich in vitamin C, has antioxidant effects, can remove free radicals in the body, and helps to delay the aging process.

Protecting the liver and promoting bile
It can promote the metabolic function of the liver, facilitate the excretion of toxins in the liver, and achieve the purpose of protecting the liver and promoting bile.

Relieve constipation
It can promote gastrointestinal motility, facilitate the digestion and absorption of food, and has the effect of moisturizing the intestines and laxatives.

Improve skin condition
The antioxidant effect of sodium alginate can promote skin metabolism and blood circulation, and help improve skin condition.

What Is Sodium Alginate Used For?

Food
Sodium alginate plays a role in food preservation, moisturizing, and improving taste. For example, in jam, sodium alginate can be used as a thickener to improve the taste and stability of jam and prevent jam precipitation and separation. In ice cream, it can improve taste and stability and prevent ice crystallization and emulsion separation.

Cosmetics
Sodium alginate has a high moisturizing effect, can absorb moisture from the skin, form a moisturizing film, and ensure the moisture of the skin. At the same time, it also has an antioxidant effect, can reduce the damage of free radicals to the skin, and is often used in anti-aging creams, antioxidant essences and other products. In soothing and repairing cosmetics, sodium alginate is also often used to relieve skin inflammation.

Agriculture
Sodium alginate is widely used in plant growth regulators, which can promote plant growth and development, improve plant resistance, and improve soil structure and fertility.

Medicine
Sodium alginate can improve liver function damage caused by chronic hepatitis and promote liver cell regeneration. Sodium alginate can promote uric acid excretion and reduce blood uric acid levels. In addition, it can also promote bile excretion and reduce bile stasis.

Sodium alginate has good biocompatibility and bioactivity and can be used as a drug carrier to improve the stability and bioavailability of drugs and reduce adverse drug reactions.