Alginose is a non-reducing sugar composed of two glucose molecules in a 1,1-glycosidic bond with three isomers, namely, alginose (α,α), isoalginose (β,β), and neoalginose (α,β), and it has a non-specific protective effect on a wide range of biologically active substances. Scientists have found that the desert plant cypress is nearly dead in drought, but can be miraculously resurrected after encountering water; the alpine plant resurrection grass is able to withstand ice and snow; some insects do not freeze and dry up under the conditions of high cold, high temperature and dry water loss, and so on, and it is the miracle of life created by the alginate in their bodies. Alginate sugar is therefore known as the "sugar of life" in the scientific community. The international authority of the "nature" magazine in July 2000 published a special article on the evaluation of alginate, the text pointed out that: "for many life forms, alginate with or without, means life or death".

Alginose is also known as fungal sugar, muscovado sugar and so on.