“…In practical gastroenterology, mixtures of alginic acid and alginates with antacids are used to prevent gastro-esophageal reflux and to cure epigastric burning (Klinkenberg-Knol et al, 1995;Zeitoun et al, 1998). Indeed, in several countries such as the US, Germany, Japan, Belgium and Canada the use of alginic acid and its derivatives for the treatment of gastritis and gastroduodenal ulcers, as well as the use of alginates as atiulcer remedies, is protected by patents (Bogentoff et al, 1981;Borgo et al, 1984;Reckitt et al, 1987;Sheth et al, 1967). The medical application of pure fucoidan fraction has also been patented by the French research institute IFREMER-CNRS (PATENT WO/32099, however the extract of brown seaweeds (containing fucoidan fractions) can still be applied in cosmetology as fibroblast proliferation activators in the context of treatments aimed at aesthetics, for example of antiwrinkle treatments or of prevention of skin ageing without patent infringement.…”