2022 Volume 13 Issue 2

Deer Antler Extracts: Extraction Methods and Functional Properties

 

Galina Arkadevna Dorn, Darya Dmitrievna Ageenko, Galina Georgievna Cherentsova, Valentina Yuryevna Lapina, Valeriy Mikhailovich Poznyakovsky, Boisjoni Tokhiriyon*


Abstract

For centuries humans have been interested in using biologically active compounds of animal origin to supplement their diets and to prevent and treat diseases. Nowadays, many extracts are produced to ensure the availability of dietary supplements to consumers worldwide. However, with the population constantly growing, there is a need to develop more effective extraction methods that can enable producers to supply the global market with high-quality products. In this paper, we study the structures and the chemical compositions of antler extracts prepared with antlers of the Altai wapiti and the Tundra Reindeer and compare conventional percolation with a circular (recurring) percolation method that involves multiple, repeated usage of the solvent. We also examine the concentration of the solvent. We argue that circular percolation provides dietary supplement producers with more opportunities, as with this method, the obtained extract is richer in biologically active compounds. The findings of the study can be of interest to dietary supplement producers.

Keywords: Antler extract, Extraction method, Percolation, Pantohematogen


Introduction

In our contemporary, fast-paced environment dietary supplements are gaining popularity. Extensive studies have demonstrated that dietary supplements offer a gentle, but effective and long-lasting influence on metabolic processes; therefore, they are increasingly used to maintain good nutrition and health (Pokrovskij et al., 2002; Provalova et al., 2002; Zhdanov et al., 2005; Guryanov, 2010; Dorn et al., 2013; Dygai et al., 2013; Guryanov, 2013; Dorn et al., 2014; Mirmiran et al., 2014; Flodin et al., 2015; Poznyakovsky et al., 2017; Vekovtsev et al., 2017; Buscemi et al., 2018; Zhang et al., 2018; Eksi et al., 2019; Tokhiriyon & Poznyakovsky, 2019; Tokhiriyon et al., 2019; 2020; Derbyshire et al., 2021; Sergun et al., 2021). Discussing dietary supplements produced with ingredients of animal origin, we would like to focus on antler supplements, in particular, pantohematogen. Pantohematogen is produced using antlers of the Altai wapiti (Cervus elaphus sibiricus); the Manchurian wapiti (Cervus elaphus xanthophigus); the Sika Deer (Nippon hortulorum Pseudaxis hortulorum); and the Tundra Reindeer (Tarandus rangiferi). Antler products have been used in traditional medicine for centuries, and recent studies have identified how dietary supplements influence and modulate body processes (Goldberg et al., 2000; Duchateau & Klaffke, 2009; Guryanov, 2010, 2013; Ferguson et al., 2013).

Velvet antlers are young, tender horns that consist of cartilage and bone and are filled with blood. Velvet antlers are of great value as no other animal can demonstrate bone growth as fast as that of deer species. This high growth rate requires significant effort and, thus, antler regeneration involves all functional systems. 

Depending on the type of deer, there are certain differences in the composition of antler products. The most valuable antlers belong to the Altai wapiti. In the Russian Federation, the Altai wapiti is found in high mountain areas with favorable, clean environments. The Altai wapiti’s eating patterns are selective; animals mainly consume golden root, maral root, and other endemic plants with known medicinal properties. Biologically active substances obtained with food and mixed with blood are accumulated in antlers. Antlers are harvested annually, in autumn, during the rutting period.

Materials and Methods

We studied and compared the structures and the chemical compositions of the Altai wapiti antlers, the Manchurian wapiti antlers, the Sika Deer antlers, and the Tundra Reindeer antlers, and also analyzed the dietary supplements that contain antlers as active ingredients. During the chemical analysis, we determined five main groups of substances: mineral substances, amino acids, peptides, lipids, and nucleic acids.

We also ascertained that the functional properties of antler products hugely depend on the extraction method. This led us to question the traditional extraction method which is percolation. This method involves filtering a solvent (an extractant) through raw material in order to pull out desirable substances soluble in the solvent. Traditionally, the saturated solvent is replaced by the fresh solvent. We argue for circular (recurring) percolation which involves multiple, repeated usage of the solvent.

Results and Discussion

During our study, we applied both traditional percolation and circular (recurring) percolation to extract the active ingredients from antlers. When compared, the findings indicated a 3.5 times difference in the quantity of the extracted ingredients (Table 1). Additionally, the higher concentration of the solvent results in a larger quantity of the extracted ingredients, while lower concentrations mainly extract protein. In particular, when 40% ethanol solvent is filtered through antlers, protein amounts to 44.7 % of the extract.

 

Table 1. Comparison of the extraction methods and the extracted ingredients

Indicators

Extraction method

Percolation

40% ethanol

Circular (recurring) percolation

70% ethanol

Extracted ingredients

3.41

11.68

Including:

Proteins

1.52

4.15

Biologically active mass

1.89

7.53

Lipids

0.053

0.40

 

Proteins extracted with a 40% ethanol solvent firm up when being cooled and turn into a jelly-like texture, which makes it more difficult to filtrate the extract.  If a 70% ethanol solvent is used, then partial denaturation takes place and, during further processing, protein precipitation occurs.

As can be seen from the table, when the traditional percolation method with a 40% ethanol solvent is used, only 11% of lipids are extracted. While the application of the circular (recurring) percolation method with an acidified 70% ethanol solvent results in up to 84% of lipids being extracted. Therefore, we can conclude that circular (recurring) percolation with a 70% ethanol solvent is more beneficial for obtaining larger quantities of desirable ingredients.

The comparison of active ingredients in antler products made from antlers of the Altai wapiti, the Manchurian wapiti, the Sika Deer, and the Tundra Reindeer did not demonstrate any significant differences in the quantity of active ingredients. The chemical compositions of two antler extracts prepared with antlers of the Altai wapiti and the Tundra Reindeer are presented in Table 2. However, the concentration of active ingredients depends on the quality of the raw material, and the time and location of harvesting.

The information about the hormones found in the Tundra Reindeer extract is presented in Table 3.

 

Table 2. The chemical compositions of two antler extracts

Indicators

‘Velkornin’

the Tundra Reindeer extract

‘Pantokrin’

the Altai wapiti extract

Density

0.90 – 1.00

0.90 - 1.00

Dry matter content, %

0.80 – 0.90

0.65 – 0.80

Alcohol content, %

65 – 70

65 – 70

Organic matter, %

including:

 

 

Protein, %

0.0005 – 0.0001

0.001 – 0.0005

Glycogen, mg / 100 g

6.5 – 7.0

3.5 – 4.5

Total sugar, mg / 100 g

4.0 – 5.0

3.0 – 4.0

Choline esters, mg / 100 g

1.10 - 1.20

1.5 – 1.7

Amino acids, mg / 100 g

125 - 150

150 - 180

Lipids, mg / 100 g

0.12 – 0.15

0.15 – 0.20

Ash, mg / 100 g

0.05

0.05

 

Table 3. The hormones found in the Tundra Reindeer extract

Triiodothyronine (T3), nmol/L

Thyroxine (Т4), nmol/L

Cortisol,

nmol/L

Estradiol , nmol/L

Progesterone, nmol/L

Testosterone, nmol/mL

5.84

67.00

74.42

0.76

0.48

61.35

 

The analyses of the mineral content revealed significant amounts of sodium, calcium, and magnesium as well as small traces of aluminum, silicon, copper, iron, and manganese. The sensitivity of the method used did not allow for the detection of other metals. The data on toxicological and microbiological safety are presented in Tables 4-6. The findings of the analyses prove that the content of the active ingredients (with measurement errors taken into account) correspondents to the data provided by the producers of antler products.

 

 

Table 4.  Biologically active components

Components

Content

Iron, mg/kg

252.0

Ascorbic acid, mg / caps

4.6

 

Table 5. The data on the toxicological safety

Indicators

Content, mg/kg

Toxic elements:

Lead

<0.03

Cadmium

<0.004

Arsenic

<0.001

Mercury

<0.005

Harmful substances:

HCH isomers

not found

DDT metabolites

not found

Aldrin

not found

Heptachlor

not found

Chloramphenicol

not found

 

Table 6. The data on the microbiological safety

Indicators

Content

Mesophilic aerobic and facultative-anaerobic microorganisms, CFU in 1 g of the product

40

BCGP (coliforms), the tested sample weight - 0.1

not found

Pathogenic, salmonellae included, the tested sample weight – 10 g

not found

Yeast, CFU / g

<  5

Mesophilic sulfite-reducing clostridia,  the tested sample weight - 0.1

not allowed

E.coli, the tested sample weight – 1 g

not allowed

S.aureus, the tested sample weight – 1 g

not allowed

Moulds, CFU / g

<  10

 

Conclusion

The findings of our study indicate that antler extracts are rich in biologically active compounds, including proteins, amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates, minerals, and hormones, which can influence body functions as well as provide nutritional value. And with the help of circular (recurring) percolation, it is possible to obtain a more saturated extract. The findings of the present study are valuable for producers of dietary supplements, including those developing new dietary supplements and confectionary products with pantohematogen. However, further research is necessary to examine the influence of antler supplements and to evaluate their efficacy, functional properties, and process technologies. 

Acknowledgments: The team of authors thanks the administration of the Yug” company for the opportunity to research its basis.

Conflict of interest: None

Financial support: None

Ethics statement: The study was conducted according to the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki.

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