Ingredients in Fucoidan Extract

Fucoidan is complex molecule found in some brown algae. Its extract is used as a health supplement to prevent high cholesterol, high blood pressure and cancer, reports Free Patents Online. However, there is not enough scientific evidence to support these claims. The extract, normally sold in capsules, also contains rice flour, magnesium stearate and cellulose, according to Doctor's Best.

Fucoidan

• The mucopolysaccharide fucoidan contains a small quantity of proteins and lipids, and is rich in vitamins and essential minerals like calcium and iodine, reports Free Patents Online. It also contains alginate and laminin, which can inhibits absorption of cholesterol and prevent hypertension. The sugars sulfated fucose, fucose and galactose are also components of fucoidan.

Rice Flour

• Rice flour is used to fill up the capsule, as the fucoidan extract is rather concentrated. Using rice flour and another starch substances is a standard procedure in the pharmaceutical industry when producing capsules, according to author Arthur Winfield in "Pharmaceutical Practice." By swallowing a capsule, the patient has also the advantage of not having to taste the substance.

Magnesium Stearate

• Magnesium stearate is used as a lubricant to help get the powder into the capsule, according to Winfield. This mineral substance, present in many foods, act as an excipient, which is an inactive ingredient used along with the active pharmaceutical ingredient, in this case the fucoidan, reports Chemical and Engineering News. Excipients also keep the capsules stable for a long shelf life.

Cellulose

• Cellulose is used to produce the capsule, according to Doctor's Best. A cellulose capsule will dissolve when wet. If a capsule is not made with a substance able to disintegrate, such as cellulose, it can pass all the way through the digestive system and never be absorbed, reports Chemical and Engineering News.