Velvet Antler Research Articles

Эффективность применения порошка пантов марала в тренировочный период годичного цикла подготовки спортсменов зимних циклических видов спорта

Objective: study of the effect of Siberian stag velvet antlers powder on the state of hemopoesis and biochemical indicators of overtraining in winter cycling sports athletes. Materials and methods: the study was carried out in 86 athletes of high qualification of winter sports (cross-country skiing, biathlon) aged from 18 to 30 years, men. Sportsmen were divided into 3 groups: the main group I (n=30) received the velvet antlers powder in a dose of 2 g/day. Main group II (n=30) received the velvet antlers powder in the dose of 4 g/day. Control group III (n=26) received placebo (sugar-sand in similar capsules). The effectiveness of the antlers powder was evaluated on the basis of analysis of hematological (content of red blood cells, hemoglobin and hematocrit) and biochemical indicators (iron content, total serum iron-binding capacity, ferritin, erythropoietin, cortisol, testosterone, lactate, glucose, urea, uric acid, c-reactive protein and indicators of lipid peroxidation). Results: the use of the velvet antlers powder helps stimulate the synthesis of erythropoietin within reference values, preserve iron reserves and prevent the development of iron deficiency anemia, glucose correction, lactate, urea and other laboratory overtraining. These effects are most pronounced at a dose of antlers powder per 4 g/day in athletes from groups I and II. Correction of glucose, lactate, urea and other laboratory indicators of overtraining, as well as an increase in the anabolism index was observed only in group II of athletes taking antlers powder at a dose of 4 g/day. In the control group, endocrine-biochemical signs of overtraining were detected against the background of intense training loads. Conclusions: the internal use of Siberian stag velvet antlers powder has a hemostimulating effect, as well as helps to correct biochemical indicators of overtraining in athletes of winter cyclical sports during the training period of the year cycle training.

Quantitative proteomics analysis of deer antlerogenic periosteal cells reveals potential bioactive factors in velvet antlers

Velvet antlers (VA) have been used as medicines and nutraceuticals for over 2000 years. Meanwhile, deer antlers are the only mammalian organs that can fully regenerate after annual shedding. The antler formation and regeneration rely on the stem cells resident in antlerogenic periosteum (AP), transplantation of which can induce ectopic antler formation. Here, a comprehensive quantitative proteomic analysis of antlerogenic periosteal cells (AP cells), compared with the adjacent facial periosteal cells (FP cells), was carried out, from both extracellular and intracellular perspectives. In this study, the stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) was applied to ensure the precision of quantification. Then, the protein equalization strategy and reverse-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) separation in high pH were utilized to improve the depth of proteome profiling. Proteomics analysis of the conditioned media (CM) from AP and FP cells showed that significantly over-expressed extracellular proteins in AP cells were involved in cell proliferation, angiogenesis and neurogenesis. Combining the extracellular and intracellular proteomes, we found several potential secreted proteins might regulate antler formation and regeneration, such as SFRP4 and LUM. These results provide new insight into the underlying mechanism of antler formation and regeneration.

Rapid qualitative evaluation of velvet antler using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)

The aim of this work is to study a rapid analysis method to evaluate velvet antler products qualitatively, using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). We used principal component analysis to select feature lines of LIBS spectra of velvet antler, and built two partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) classification models to distinguish between inferior and good quality velvet antler by using the intensities of all lines and feature lines as input variables, respectively. The correct classification rates (CCRs) of these two models were both 100%. In order to test the robustness of the models, we used these two models to discriminate the samples not included in the training set to build the model, and the CCRs were 87.5% and 100%, respectively. The results demonstrated that combining LIBS with PLS-DA could evaluate the quality of velvet antler, and the robustness could be improved by using the intensities of feature lines as inputs.

Extraction and Preformulation Study of Deer Antler Velvet Extract:Physical Characterization of Aqueous and Ethanol Extract

Objective: The aim of the research was to extract the deer antler velvet from Kalimantan Indonesia and to study physical characteristics between 70% ethanol and aqueous extract. Materials and methods: Ethanol extracts was extracted from deer antler velvet using maceration and modified maceration method. Ethanol extracts were compared to aqueous extract which produced using maceration technique. The extract profiles were determined by screening test and physicochemical properties as preformulation study were characterized using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), X-ray diffractometer, differential thermal analysis (DTA), solubility test, BCA protein content, and molecular weight using SDS PAGE assay. Results: Extracts were successfully prepared and determined. Physicochemical properties of 70% ethanol extract and aqueous extract resulted different characteristics in melting point, solubility, crystallinity and protein content. Both ethanol extract and aqueous deer antler velvet extract contained group compounds of terpenoids and steroids and contains high amount of proteins at molecular weight of 17 to 43 kDa. In terms of crystallinity, ethanol and aqueous extracts had different crystal lattices. Conclusion: The aqueous extract of deer antler velvet was then recommended for further in vitro drug formulation and characterization. The molecular weight of majority protein inside aqueous deer antler velvet extract was 17 kDa and this datas will be useful for further drug formulation

The Panty Question in Yamal: Sawing, Trading, Discussing

Since 1990s the collection of panty (reindeer velvet antlers) have become one of the important part of the economy of the tundra peoples. The panty trade had formed the whole social network between reindeer herders and “merchants” — the collectors of panty connecting a reindeer herder with the global market. After the outbreak of anthrax in 2016 in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, the discussion of the problems of overgrazing and the lack of reindeer pastures have intensified. Some of the scholars claim that the steep rise of the Yamal reindeer herds in the last decades is closely related with the so-called “panty reindeer herding” (allegedly more profitably than the meat-oriented herding but treating the pastures more extensively because of the increasing of the number of the unslaughtered animals) and such a view have provoked the huge discussion. The article presents the different views of the polemicists and analyzes them. To understand the whole mechanism of the panty business the authors during the fieldwork at Yamal in 2015–2018 have studied its various stages on the level herder — “merchant”: the choice of animals and ways of sawing antlers, the seasonal detour of reindeer herders camps by panty collectors, the practices of exchanging commodity for supplies and cash, the share of sales of panty in the structure of income of the tundra family, the transportation of panty

Velvet antler polypeptide partially rescue facet joint osteoarthritis-like phenotype in adult \u03b2-catenin conditional activation mice

BackgroundWnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is closely related to osteoarthritis. In our preliminary study, β-catenin conditional activation (cAct) mice that specifically over-express β-catenin gene in cartilage chondrocyte exhibits osteoarthritis-like phenotype in the lumbar disc and knee joint. Therefore, we used the mice to model FJ-OA and test the potential curative effect of Velvet Antler Polypeptide (VAP) on this mice model.MethodsWe tested the effect of VAP on β-catenin conditional activation mice, and used Cre negative littermates as controls. Micro-CT, histology and histomorphometry analysis were performed to evaluate the curative effect of VAP on mice facet joint-like phenotype. Expression of β-catenin and collagen II was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western-blot., MMP13, ADAMTS4 and ADAMTS5 was detected by immunofluorescence (IF). RT-PCR analysis was preformed to detect mRNA expression of cartilage degrading enzymes, such as MMP13, ADAMTS4 and ADAMTS5.ResultsResults of micro-CT (μCT) analysis showed that VAP could partially reverse lumbar disc osteophyte formation observed in β-catenin(ex3)Col2ER mice. Histology data revealed VAP partially improved facet joint cartilage tissue invades. Histomorphometry analysis showed an increase in total cartilage area after VAP treatment. IHC show that VAP reduced β-catenin protein levels and moderately up-regulated collagen II protein levels. RT-PCR and IF data showed that VAP down-regulated the expression of extracellular matrix synthesis (ECM) degradation enzymes MMP13, ADAMTS4 and ADAMTS5.ConclusionTaken together, VAP may modulate ECM by inhibits MMP13, ADAMTS4 and ADAMTS5 via Wnt /β-catenin signaling pathway. Velvet Antler Polypeptide may be a potential medicine for FJ-OA.

BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE COMPONENTS OF ANTLERS EXTRACTS (CERVUS NIPPON) AND RED DEER (CERVUS ELAPHUS) PEPTIDEPROTEIN NATURE

A complex study of the protein composition of the biologically active components of the extracts of the velvet deer antlers (VDA, include Cervus nippon and Cervus elaphus) using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE), size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), and peptide mapping with high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (HPLC-MS) with the use of fermentation by trypsin was done. A molecular-mass distribution characteristic for protein extracts of VDA has been established. Optimal conditions for extraction, chromatographic separation and relative quantitative determination of the main components have been determined. The results of the identification of the most significant (major and minor) protein components in the extracts of the studied objects are described in detail in accordance with the algorithm of the search program Spectrum Mill MS Proteomics Workbench and the protein database Uniprot. The data of protein profiling are clustered according to molecular and biological functions. The connections of the identified proteins with possible mechanisms of biological action and targets, which can be affected by the protein components of the studied objects, are presented. Based on the results of the study, conclusions about the multicomponent protein composition of extracts of VDA were drawn. The marker protein components in the studied extracts are suggested and the possible interrelationships of the detected proteins in the extracts with biological effects are indicated.

Repair of Adult Mammalian Heart After Damages by Oral Intake of Gu Ben Pei Yuan San.

Adult mammalian heart repair after myocardial damage is highly inefficient due to the post-mitotic nature of cardiomyocytes. Interestingly, in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), there are reported effective treatments of myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure in adult humans by oral intake of a TCM concoction named Gu Ben Pei Yuan San (GBPYS), which is composed of Panax ginseng, velvet antler, Gekko gecko Linnaeus tail, human placenta, Trogopterus dung, Panax notoginseng, and amber. We fed mice with GBPYS after myocardial damages through everyday self-feeding. We then examined the effect of everyday oral intake of GBPYS on improving cardiac function and myocardial repair in adult mice after apical resection or MI. We found that long-term oral intake of GBPYS significantly improved cardiac function after myocardial damages in adult mice. BrdU, phospho-histone 3, and AuroraB staining indicated increased cell proliferation at the border zone of MI after TCM feeding. GBPYS feeding reduced organ inflammation, induced angiogenesis, and is non-toxic to mice after long-term oral intake. Further, serum derived from TCM-fed MI rats promoted division of both neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes in vitro. Oral intake of GBPYS improved heart repair after myocardial damages in adult mice. Our results suggest that there are substances present in GBPYS that help improve adult mammalian heart repair after MI. Also, it could be a good choice of non-invasive alternative therapy for myocardial damages and heart failure after rigorous clinical study in the future.

Analgesic efficacy of articaine hydrochloride for velvet antler removal in red deer (Cervus elaphus) and analysis of drug residues in the harvested velvet antlers

ABSTRACTAimsTo investigate the analgesic efficacy of articaine hydrochloride for antler removal in red deer (Cervus elaphus) following S/C administration as a ring block, and to quantify the residue concentrations of articaine compared to lignocaine in the harvested antlers.MethodsArticaine hydrochloride (40 mg/mL) was administered to 10 male red deer as a ring block around the base of each antler at 1 mL/cm of pedicle circumference. Analgesia was evaluated by determining the response to a saw cut test every 1-minute, until no response was observed. Behaviour during and following removal of antlers was also recorded. Twenty commercially harvested velvet antlers were also collected following S/C administration of 2% lignocaine hydrochloride. A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method for quantification of residues of articaine and lignocaine in velvet antlers was developed and validated.ResultsIn red deer administered 4% articaine hydrochloride as a ring block, the median interval to analgesia was 4 (min 3, max 5) minutes and no deer showed withdrawal responses during antler removal. There were no signs of toxicity or adverse effects up to 2 hours after administration. The sample preparation method developed for the LC-MS was simple and had acceptable extraction recoveries of articaine and lignocaine from the velvet antlers. The lower limits of quantification of lignocaine and articaine were 5 and 50 ng/g, respectively. Mean concentrations of articaine in antlers following ring block with 4% articaine hydrochloride were 1.50 (SD 1.09) mg/kg, and of lignocaine following ring block with 2% lignocaine hydrochloride were 0.66 (SD 0.71) mg/kg.Conclusions and clinical relevanceA ring block with 4% articaine hydrochloride at a dose of 1 mL/cm of pedicle circumference provided effective analgesia for velvet antler removal in red deer. The LC-MS method developed and validated to quantify articaine and lignocaine was simple and sensitive. Based on these results, articaine hydrochloride appears to be an effective alternative to lignocaine hydrochloride for velvet antler removal. However, further studies to evaluate the safety and residue concentrations of articaine and articainic acid are required before it can be recommended for use in deer.Abbreviations: DMA: 2,6-dimethylaniline; LC-MS: Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry; MEGX: Monoethylglycinexylidide; MRL: Maximum residue level

Quantification of Furosine (Nε-(2-Furoylmethyl)-l-lysine) in Different Parts of Velvet Antler with Various Processing Methods and Factors Affecting Its Formation.

Furosine (Nε-(2-furoylmethyl)-l-lysine) is formed during the early stages of the Maillard reaction from a lysine Amadori compound and is frequently used as a marker of reaction progress. Furosine is toxic, with significant effects on animal livers, kidneys, and other organs. However, reports on the formation of furosine in processed velvet antler are scarce. In this study, we have quantified the furosine content in processed velvet antler by using UPLC-MS/MS. The furosine contents of velvet antler after freeze-drying, boiling, and processing without and with blood were 148.51–193.93, 168.10–241.22, 60.29–80.33, and 115.18–138.99 mg/kg protein, respectively. The factors affecting furosine formation in processed velvet antler, including reducing sugars, proteins, amino acids, and process temperature, are discussed herein. Proteins, amino acids, and reducing sugars are substrates for the Maillard reaction and most significantly influence the furosine content in the processed velvet antler. High temperatures induce the production of furosine in boiled velvet antler but not in the freeze-dried samples, whereas more furosine is produced in velvet antler processed with blood, which is rich in proteins, amino acids, and reducing sugars, than in the samples processed without blood. Finally, wax slices rich in proteins, amino acids, and reducing sugars produced more furosine than the other parts of the velvet antler. These data provide a reference for guiding the production of low-furosine velvet antler and can be used to estimate the consumer intake of furosine from processed velvet antler.

Velvet Antler compounds targeting major cell signaling pathways in osteosarcoma - a new insight into mediating the process of invasion and metastasis in OS

AbstractVelvet antler is the only renewable bone tissue of mammalian animals, which consists of a variety of growth factors, amino acids and polypeptides. But the mechanism of high-speed proliferation without carcinogenesis is still mystifying. The previous study of this work found that the velvet antler peptides (VAP) could not only inhibit the proliferation and migration of osteosarcoma cell lines MG-63 and U2OS, but also induced U2OS apoptosis and inhibited MG-63 epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) through TGF-β and Notch pathways. These results lead us to conclude that VAP has the potential ability to mediate osteosarcoma cells by regulating related signaling pathways and growth factors. Therefore, finding a new appropriate inhibitor for OS is a valuable research direction, which will give patients a better chance to receive proper therapy. From an applied perspective, this review summarized the effects of velvet antler, genes, growth factors and research progress of relative pathways and genes of osteosarcoma, which are poised to help link regenerative molecular biology and regenerative medicine in osteosarcoma pathogenesis.

Determination of the chemical components and phospholipids of velvet antler using UPLC/QTOF-MS coupled with UNIFI software.

Velvet antler, which exhibits immune and growth enhancing effects, is commonly used in a variety of Asian health care products, but its complex components remain unknown. The current study analyzed extracts using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry in the MSE mode. Automated detection and data filtering were performed using UNIFI software and peaks were compared with a proprietary scientific library (Traditional Medicine Library; TML). The results obtained using different data processing parameters (including 3D peak detection, target by mass and fragment identification) were evaluated against 87 compounds comprising 1 lignan, 30 terpenoids (including 20 triterpenes), 39 steroids, 8 alkaloids, 4 organic acids and 5 esters in the TML. Using a screening method with a mass accuracy cutoff of ±2 mDa, a retention time cutoff of ±0.2 min, a minimum response threshold of 1,000 counts and an average of 10 false detects per sample analysis, 16 phospholipids were identified in the extracts of velvet antler, three of which were quantified. The results demonstrated that there was 1.07±0.02 µg/g of 1-myristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, 7.05±0.52 ng/g of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and 18.81±0.55 ng/g of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine in velvet antler. The current study successfully identified certain components of velvet antler. Furthermore, the results may provide an experimental basis for further pharmacological and clinical study.

Transcriptomic analysis of different tissue layers in antler growth Center in Sika Deer (Cervus nippon)

BackgroundWith the unprecedented rapid growth rate (up to 2.75 cm/day), velvet antler is an invaluable model for the identification of potent growth factors and signaling networks for extremely fast growing tissues, mainly cartilage. Antler growth center (AGC) locates in its tip and consists of five tissue layers: reserve mesenchyme (RM), precartilage (PC), transition zone (TZ), cartilage (CA) and mineralized cartilage (MC). The aim of this study was to investigate the transcription dynamics in the AGC using RNA-seq technology.ResultsFive tissue layers in the AGC were collected from three 3-year-old male sika deer using our previously reported sampling method (morphologically distinguishable). After sequencing (15 samples; triplicates/tissue layer), we assembled a reference transcriptome de novo and used RNA-seq to measure gene expression profiles across these five layers. Nine differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were selected from our data and subsequently verified using qRT-PCR. The results showed a high consistency with the RNA-seq results (R2 = 0.80). Nine modules were constructed based on co-expression network analysis, and these modules contained 370 hub genes. These genes were found to be mainly involved in mesenchymal progenitor cell proliferation, chondrogenesis, osteogenesis and angiogenesis. Combination of our own results with the previously published reports, we found that Wnt signaling likely plays a key role not only in stimulating the antler stem cells or their immediate progeny, but also in promoting chondrogenesis and osteogenesis during antler development.ConclusionWe have successfully assembled a reference transcriptome, generated gene expression profiling across the five tissue layers in the AGC, and identified nine co-expressed modules that contain 370 hub genes and genes predorminantly expressed in and highly relevant to each tissue layer. We believe our findings have laid the foundation for the identification of novel genes for rapid proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of antler cells.

VELVET ANTLER PRODUCTIVITY OF ALTAI-SAYAN MARAL BREED IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF TUVA

The evaluation results of velvet antler productivity of Altai-Sayan maral breed brought to the Tuva Republic from the Altai breeding plant Abaiskiy are presented. Antler yield of marals of the Altai-Sayan breed was studied in connection with its acclimatization in the new habitat conditions. The studies were carried out in the maral breeding farm of the Republic of Tuva. Velvet antler productivity was determined during the cutting of stags’ antlers aged from 2 to 11 years old. Antler cutting on this farm is held for 6o days during a year. The first two cuttings of antlers were carried out in the last ten-day period of May in 2016 and 2018, which accounted for 0.54-0.87% of the total number of stags. The largest number of cuttings, namely 299, was done in 2016, which was 31.6% of the total number of stags. The average weight of antlers of the imported Altai-Sayan maral breed in the conditions of the Republic of Tuva in the first year of adaptation was as follows: at the age of 3 years old – 3.91 ± 0.13 kg; 4 years – 2.25 ± 0.11 kg; 5 years – 1.54 ± 0.08 kg; 6 years – 3.20 ± 0.17 kg; 7 years – 3.30 ± 0.12 kg; 8 years – 4.42 ± 0.23 kg; 9 years – 4.47± 0.11 kg; 10 years – 5.20 ± 0.28 kg; 11 years and older – 5.00 ± 0.21 kg. In the next three years, the weight of marals’ antlers gradually increased and by 2018, it was higher than that in 2015. Higher yield was observed from stags aged 7 to 10 years. The study showed that the average antler weight of the imported maral population was inferior to the indigenous Altai population of marals. The superiority of indigenous marals of Altai-Sayan breed compared to the population of marals imported from Altai at the age of 2 years old amounted to 1.1 kg (2 times); 4-5 years – from 0.9 to 1.3 kg (1.2 and 1.3 times); 6-7 years – from 3.1 to 1.8 kg (1.8 and 1.3 times); 8-9 years - from 2.7 to 1.6 kg (1.5 and 1.2 times); 10-11 years - from 2.5 to 3.4 kg (3.4 and 1.6 times). Despite the fact that marals brought to the Republic of Tuva were inferior to the indigenous Altai ones in their antler yield, their adaptation was successful. In most cases the differences in the weight of antlers were not significant and did not cause the decrease in the subsequent productivity of marals brought to Tuva. These data may serve as a criterion for evaluating the results of breeding work on increasing velvet antler productivity of imported marals.

Compositional analysis of the glycosaminoglycan family in velvet antlers of Sika deer (Cervus nippon) at different growing stages.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAG) from the velvet antlers of Sika deer (Cervus nippon) at the different growing stages (Fukurozuno, Anshi, and Santajo) of bred and wild deer were isolated and their concentrations and sulfation patterns were analyzed. GAG were digested with chondroitinase ABC, ACI, heparinase-I and -III, and keratanase-II into the corresponding repeating disaccharides of chondroitin sulfate (CS), dermatan sulfate (DS), hyaluronan, heparan sulfate (HS), and keratan sulfate. Cartilaginous tissues contained CS-DS at high concentrations with an almost equal ratio of 4- and 6-sulfates, while 4-sulfate-type CS-DS predominantly occupied ossified tissues, but at low concentrations. High O- and N-sulfation degrees of HS correspond to high ossification. Dynamic quantitative changes in CS-DS and compositional changes in CS-DS and HS were closely associated with the mineralization of deer antlers.

Velvet Antler Mobilizes Endothelial Progenitor Cells to Promote Angiogenesis and Repair Vascular Endothelial Injury in Rats Following Myocardial Infarction.

Objective: This investigation examined the effect of velvet antler (VA) on endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and the associated effects to promote angiogenesis and repair vascular endothelial injury in rats with myocardial infarction (MI).Methods: VA was analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham, MI, VA, and VA + DAPT (gamma-secretase inhibitor IX, a specific blocker of the Notch signaling pathway) group. The rats underwent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery for the establishment of MI. Sham-operated rats were used as controls. Blood was taken from the orbital plexus on the first and third days after the operation, and all rats were euthanized on the 7th day after surgery. The blood samples were used to detect the contents of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (CEPCs) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Echocardiography was used to test the cardiac function. Cardiac tissue was used for immunohistochemistry and electron microscope, and the marginal zone of the MI tissue was used for western blot and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction.Results: The number of basically qualitative metabolites is 445. Among them, there are 74 substances with relative content greater than 0.05%. VA increased the concentration of CEPCs and VEGF in serum, CD133 content and microvessel density (MVD), and protected the morphology of microvascular endothelial cells in the marginal area of MI at 7 days post-MI surgery. CEPCs and MVD in the VA +DAPT group were lower than those of VA group. VA increased the protein expressions of Jagged-1, Notch1, NICD and HES1, and the mRNA expressions of Hes1 and Hey2, while some of the effects could be suppressed by DAPT.Conclusion: These results suggest that VA promotes the mobilization of EPCs to promote angiogenesis and repair vascular endothelial cell damage in post-MI rats, and these effects may be due to activation of the Notch signal pathway.

At the water's edge: Micromorphological and quantitative mineral analysis of a submerged Mesolithic shell midden at Hjarnø Sund, Denmark

This study presents the first application of micromorphology and Automated Scanning Electron Microscopy (ASEM) to a submerged shell-bearing midden site in Denmark, one of the few submerged shell-matrix sites in the world to have undergone archaeological excavation. The use of micromorphology in these deposits provides a means to distinguish primary and secondary deposits and degree of preservation. The additional input of quantitative mineral analysis provides an empirical tool for correlation of minerogenic components across the site and assessing change through time. Micromorphological insights into the formation history and post-depositional modification include epizootic infestations within oyster shells at the base of the profile and needle-fibre calcite at the top - the former is indicative of accumulation of at least part of the shell midden below water, whilst the latter is indicative of exposure. Aside from the shell itself, other cultural traces include heated and worked flint fragments, burnt and unburnt hard bone fragments (including fish bone), soft (spongy) bone, charcoal (Ulmus sp., Alnus sp., Corylus sp.), and preservation of what could possibly be antler velvet. Quantitative mineral analyses provide support for the successive stabilisation of the midden site by accumulating minerogenic (silica-rich) sands over the glacial clay and detrital gyttja deposits (defined by smaller grain size, greater heavy mineral content), and subsequently between the shell matrix itself, until the erosion of these protective sediments in more recent times. Further micromorphological profiles are needed to fully assess local versus regional signatures within the site, which otherwise provides an ideal context against which to compare the effects of inundation in similar microtidal contexts.

Effects of different processing methods on water soluble polysaccharide contents and monosaccharide compositions in Cervi Cornu Pantotrichum

The water-soluble polysaccharides in antler velvet were extracted by water extraction and alcohol precipitation. The content was determined by a phenol-sulfuric acid colorimetry. After hydrolysis and derivatization, the various monosaccharide compositions of water-soluble polysaccharides from different parts of the antler velvet after different processing methods were analyzed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). The results showed that the water-soluble polysaccharide contents in wax slices, powder slices, gauze slices and bone slices of the boiled antler velvet were 1.74, 1.67, 1.03 and 1.13 g/kg, respectively, whereas those of the freeze-dried antler velvet were 2.77, 3.07, 1.22 and 3.20 g/kg, respectively. The water-soluble polysaccharide contents in in the same four parts of the antler velvet processed antler velvet without and with blood were 1.55, 1.78, 0.96, 0.77 g/kg, and 1.69, 1.64, 1.01, 1.31 g/kg, respectively. Eight monosaccharides (mannose, glucosamine, ribose, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, aminogalactose, glucose and galactose) were detected in the compositions of water-soluble polysaccharides in the antler velvet by using different processing methods. For the same part, the monosaccharide contents in the boiled antler velvet were lower than those in the freeze-dried antler velvet, and the monosaccharide contents (except those of glucosamine and aminogalactose) in the antler velvet processed without blood were lower than those in the antler velvet processed with blood. For different parts processed with the same method, the monosaccharide contents in wax and powder pieces were higher than those in gauze slices and bone pieces. This study provides a theoretical reference for velvet processing and product development.

Research on mechanism of traditional hot processing on velvet antler based on 1H nuclear magnetic resonance and multivariate statistical analysis

Background: The processing of Chinese materia medica is an important part for the preparation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) which has been believed that can change the chemical composition and physiological function. Velvet antler is a kind of precious TCM and widely used after hot processing as folk medicines in China. However, no strategy has been presented to reveal the processing principle of velvet antler. Objective: The aim of this study is to develop a method for exploring the mechanism of hot processing on velvet antler. Materials and Methods: In this study, the chemical compositions of fresh velvet antler (FVA) and hot processed velvet antler (HPVA) were compared based on the 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and multivariate statistical analysis methods to explore the mechanism of hot processing on velvet antler. Results: It showed that hot processing increased phosphorylcholine, taurine, alanine, uridine, phenylalanine, uracil, tyrosine, accompanied by decreased bile acid, choline, lipid 2 and succinic acid in comparison to the FVA, which changed significantly in 52 common metabolites of FVA and HPVA. In addition, a clear separation between FVA and HPVA was obtained by using principal component analysis and 11 “chemical markers” were found by using orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) approaches. Particular attention was given to the “chemical markers” with potentially beneficial bioactivities. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that 1H NMR-based chemometric approach could be a promising tool for investigation of the hot processing of velvet antler in a holistic way of TCM.

Study on the Marker Steroids of New Zealand Deer (Cervus elaphus var. scoticus) Velvet Antler by UPLC-MS/MS and HPLC-PDA Methods - (II)

Eleven steroid hormones (SHs: androstene-3,17-dione, estrone, β-estradiol, α-estradiol, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, 17a-hydroxyprogesterone, medroxyprogesterone, megestrol acetate, progesterone, and androsterone) were detected from New Zealand deer (Cervus elaphus var. scoticus) velvet antler (NZA, 鹿茸). A method for the quantification of eleven SHs was established by using ultraperformance liquid chromatography (UPLC)-MS/MS. The linearities (R2 > 0.991), limits of quantification (LOQ values, 0.3 ng/mL to 23.1 ng/mL), intraday and interday precisions (relative standard deviation: RSD 0.999), LOQ values (30 ng/mL to 350 ng/mL), intraday and interday precisions (RSD < 1.93%), and recovery rates (97.2% to 103.5%) for the three 7-O-CSs were determined. These quantitative methods are accurate, precise, and reproducible. As a result, it is suggested that the five steroid compounds of androstene-3,17-dione, androsterone, 7-ketocholesterol, 7α-hydroxycholesterol, and 7β-hydroxycholesterol could be marker steroids of NZA. These methods can be applied to quantify or standardize the marker steroids present in NZA.