Alginic acid is a polysaccharide commonly used as a gelling agent in the pharmaceutical industry. It is derived from brown seaweed and is commonly used in the production of various types of oral solid dosage forms such as capsules, tablets, and gummies. Alginic acid forms a gel-like substance when mixed with a calcium salt, which allows for the creation of a gel-coated tablet or capsule. This gel coating can help to improve the overall stability and controlled release of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in the tablet or capsule. Alginic acid is also used as a binder in tablet production and as a thickener in liquid formulations.