Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of water-soluble chitosan salts, to chitosan products produced by this process and to their uses, e.g. in pharmaceutical or veterinary compositions or as a food or cosmetic additive. More specifically, the invention relates to a process for preparing a water-soluble chitosan salt which comprises: (a) contacting a solid chitosan with at least one protic acid whereby to produce a water-soluble chitosan salt; and (b) optionally recovering said salt, wherein said chitosan is converted into said salt whilst remaining substantially in the solid state. Gaseous or liquid protic acids may be used, including hydrochloric, acetic and propionic acids.

Abstract: An oral hygiene product, such as tooth paste, is described. A methos for controlling undesirable bacterial flora in the oral cavity, as well as the use of the plant Sphagnum, are also described.

Abstract: The invention provides a foodstuff comprising a nutritional food substance and a chitosan having an FA value of at least 0.25.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of chitosan which process comprises swelling particulate chitin with an aqueous solution for a period of at least 36 hours, and subsequently reacting the resultant swollen particulate chitin with an alkaline solution at an elevated temperature whereby to cause a deacetylation to occur.

Abstract: The present invention relates to gelled feed products, means for making said products and a method for manufacturing gelled feed products. The product comprises 80-98 weight % raw material of animal or marine origin pre-treated with KOH and/or NaOH, KHCO3, K2CO3, NaHCO3, Na2CO3, or (NH4)2CO3 and 0.5-5 weight % alginate or pectin, a calcium source standard feed ingredients and calcium. The product may contain 0-10 weight % fish meal or carbohydrates. Said means are raw material of animal or marine origin pre-treated with alkali giving said raw material a pH of 8-12. The method comprises mixing raw materials of marine or animal origin, comprising offals, alginate or pectin, and a calcium source and standard feed ingredients, particulating said mixture into any useful geometrical shape, expose it to acid treatment in a bath. The raw material is pre-treated with alkali or to addition of alginate or pectin. The resulting mixture is formed into desired shape and treated in an acid bath to form the gelled product.

Abstract: The use of G-block polysaccharides as a modulator for the rheology in a mixture in which a gelling, water-soluble polysaccharide is a component to give the final product a changed viscosity, stability, elasticity, rigidity or similar.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a material and method for the stimulation of the production of cytokines. Several polysaccharides, including polymers of different size of .sym.1-4 linked D-mannuronic acid (poly-M and M-blocks), chitosan and cellulose oxidized in C-6 position C60XY) induce human monocytes to produce the cytokines. Preferably, the molecular weights of poly-M and chitosan are above 50,000 and 20,000 respectively. Pretreatment of the monocytes with IFN-.gamma. increases the cytokine production from monocytes stimulated with all polysaccharides tested. The subject polysaccharides worked in vivo and in vitro.The present invention has therapeutic utility as vaccine adjuvants and components. Therapeutic compositions comprising biologically active quantities of the compositions of the present invention may be employed to potentiate antibody production in response to vaccine antigens. Anti-tumor, anti-bacteriological, anti-fungal and anti-viral effects may be expected.

Abstract: A family of compounds effective in inhibiting interleukin-1 (IL-1) production, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production, and the production of other leukocyte derived cytokines is comprised of oligomers and polymers of .alpha.1-4 linked L-guluronic acid residues which may be administered to a human or mammal in an amount sufficient to inhibit the production effect of leukocyte-derived cytokines. The inhibition of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF, and other cytokines in mammals is implicated in alleviation of a wide variety of disease conditions.

Abstract: A method for modification of alginates or other uronic acid containing compounds to give improved physical properties, wherein the alginates in solid form are treated with CO.sub.2 under supercritical conditions thereby achieving at least partial epimerization of said uronic acid containing compound. The critical point of CO.sub.2 is pcrit=73.83 bar and tcrit=31.degree. C.