• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1737-1741
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to provide basic information to allow improved nutritional management for velvet production by investigating the effects of dietary protein levels on dry matter intake and production and chemical composition of velvet antler in spotted deer (Cervus nippon). Twenty-four spotted deer stags were assigned to 4 unreplicated groups, Control (15% CP in diet, higher dry matter), CP10 (10% CP), CP15 (15% CP) and CP20 (20% CP). The velvet antlers were harvested from each stag on the 55th day after casting of the buttons from the previous set, measured for their size and weight, and the chemical composition of each antler was determined in three sections (top, middle, and base). Dry matter (DMI) and crude protein (CPI) intake were highest (p<0.05) for the Control and increased progressively (p<0.05) with increasing dietary protein level. Although not significant, mean length and girth of the main antler beam tended to be larger in either left or right beam with increasing protein level in the diet, longest in CP20 and shortest in CP10. Velvet antler production was lowest in CP10 and highest in CP20, which differed significantly (p<0.05). Only negligible differences were found between groups in chemical composition. It is concluded that dietary protein clearly influenced dry matter intake and velvet antler production, whereas there was comparatively little effect of dietary protein on chemical composition of antler in spotted deer.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.237-244
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• 2010

In order to investigate the physiological properties of velvet antler of elk (Cervus e. canadensis) raised in Korea, antlers (n=378) were collected from deer in 8 provinces including Gyeonggi-do (n=53), Gangwon-do (n=49), Chungcheongbuk-do (n=62), Chungcheongnam-do (n=68), Jeollabuk-do (n=52), Jeollanam-do (n=15), Gyeongsangbuk-do (n=30) and Gyeongsangnam-do (n=49). The exterior characteristics (weight, length, girth and crown) of all antlers were measured, and 18 antler samples were randomly selected for measurement of interior characteristics such as specific gravity, capacity and diameter of cross section. The mean antler weight, length of the main beam and mean length of upper section were $4.87{\pm}1.79\;kg$, $83.7{\pm}13.2\;cm$ and $40.6{\pm}11.4\;cm$, respectively. Mean girth of the top, middle and base of the main beam were $27.1{\pm}5.9\;cm$, $22.1{\pm}3.6\;cm$ and $22.9{\pm}3.6\;cm$ respectively, indicating a slight narrowing in the middle of the antler. In each of the tines, the girth at the base was markedly thicker compared to the top. The depth of the crown at the top of the antler, and the average number of crowns and tines were $14.1{\pm}7.0\;cm$, $2.1{\pm}0.6$ and $3.0{\pm}0.5$, respectively. Although there was no significant difference in mean specific gravity between top and base, mean specific gravity of main beam tended to increase from top to base of the antler with decreasing capacity. Additionally, the inner diameter of the base of the antler was significantly reduced compared to that of the top, indicating a greater integumental thickening due to mineralization. Information on the morphological and physiological properties of elk antlers is scarce. Therefore, these results may be useful in providing basic information for the physiological properties of antler, and encourage further studies on antler morphology in other deer species showing species specific differences.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.349-355
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• 2011

Russian deer velvet antlers were divided into three parts and subjected to a extraction process using hot water at 100, 110, and $120^{\circ}C$ or an extraction with 70% ethanol. Each extract was analyzed for its biochemical components, including uronic acid, sulfated-glycosaminoglycans (sulfated-GAGs), and sialic acid, and the antioxidant and anti-acetylcholinesterase activities were investigated. Different levels of uronic acid and sulfated-GAGs were observed in the extracts according to the water temperature used for the extraction, and contents decreased with increasing extraction temperature. The upper layer of each extract showed high amounts of uronic acid and sulfated-GAGs, followed by the middle and base layers. Ethanol extraction was more effective for recovering uronic acid than sulfated-GAGs. Sialic acid content was the highest in the $110^{\circ}C$ extracts but was not observed in the ethanol extracts. Velvet antler extracts showed strong antioxidant activities against DPPH and hydrogen peroxide as well as strong reducing power in a dose-dependent manner. However, the antioxidant activities were different in each layer and according to the extraction method. Additionally, velvet antler extracts exhibited inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase, which is associated with Alzheimer's disease, in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that velvet antler extracts are useful as a functional food ingredient and/or a pharmaceutical.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.1116-1123
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• 2020

Velvet antler (VA) is a historically traditional medicinal supplement and is well known in Asian countries for its pharmaceutical and health benefits. The objectives for this study were to optimize the hot water extraction (HWE) of VA for the Korean VA industry, and to determine the most effective pretreatment method among microwave (MW), ultrasonication (US), and enzymatic (EZ) techniques. Using response surface methodology, optimum extraction temperatures and times were determined by central composite design configuration based on extraction yield and sialic acid content. Various quality parameters of VA extract including yield, soluble solid, protein, and sialic acid contents were also compared with the conjunction of HWE and pretreatment. The yield and sialic acid content of VA extract were determined to be 40% and 0.73 mg/g, respectively, under an optimum temperature of 100℃ at 24 h of extraction time. The yields from VA extracts pretreated with MW, US, and EZ were 17.42%, 19.73%, and 29.15%, respectively. Among the tested commercial enzymes, pepsin was the most effective proteolytic enzyme and led to the highest yield (47.65%), soluble solids (4.03 °brix), protein (1.12 mg/ml), and sialic acid (3.04 mg/ml) contents from VA extract.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.1303-1313
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• 2011

This study was conducted to provide the basic information to allow improved scientific assessment of velvet antler's quality by investigating the change of chemical composition during different antler growth stages in elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis). Twenty four antlers were harvested from elk stags (aged 4-5 years) on 65 days (VA65), 80 days (VA80) and 95 days (VA95) after button casting, and the chemical composition of each antler was determined in five sections (top, upper, middle, base, and bottom). Crude protein and ether extract content was the highest in the top section, whereas ash content was the highest in the bottom section in all groups (p<0.05). Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content was higher in the VA65 group than in the VA95 group in the upper section of antler (p<0.05). The collagen content was higher in the VA65 group compared to the VA95 group in the middle and bottom sections (p<0.05), and increased downward from the top to the bottom section. The proportions of certain amino acids, including aspartic acid, glutamic acid and isoleucine were higher (p<0.05), whereas proline and glycine were lower in the top section of antler compared to all other sections (p<0.05). The proportion of linoleic acid, 11,14,17-eicosatrienoic acid, total ${\omega}$-3 and ${\omega}$-6 fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) for all sections in the VA65 group was higher than in the VA95 group (p<0.05). These results suggested that the quality of velvet antler is strongly influenced by antler development stage.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2000

The mineral compositions were analysed of the tip and the upper section of dried domestic antlers. The upper section was divided longitudinally into four parts. The tip and the upper section were divided traversely into the velvet and the spongy bone layers. The contents of ash, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium increased (p<0.05), and those of manganese, zinc, copper and iron decreased (p<0.05) downward from the tip both in the velvet and the spongy bone layers. The contents of ash, calcium, phosphorus, manganese and zinc of the spongy bone layer were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those of the velvet layer. The tip, which is the growth center of the antler, had the significantly (p<0.05) lowest proportions of Ca/ash, Ca/P and Ca/Fe ratios both in the velvet and spongy bone layers.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.565-576
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• 2021

This study was undertaken to measure changes in the composition of elk velvet antlers, by considering the part and growth days (40th day, 60th day). The collected samples were divided into the tip, upper, middle, and base part by position. Samples were analyzed for moisture, crude protein, crude fat, crude ash, crude fiber, pH, minerals, and fatty acid and amino acid contents. The amounts of crude protein and crude fat were determined to be highest at the tip of the velvet antler by position, whereas dry matter and crude ash were high at the base. Crude protein contents were increased in the upper part but were decreased at the base, when assessed by growth day. Conversely, crude fiber and crude ash were found to be increased at the base by growth day. The pH value was determined to be lower at the tip, but did not differ when evaluated by growth day. Mineral contents (Ca, P, K) differed significantly by growth day in the middle portion of the antler. Saturated fatty acids tended to increase by growth day, whereas unsaturated fatty acids showed a decreasing trend. However, no significant difference was obtained for any of the components. Most amino acids were found to be high in the 60 days velvet antler, except isoleucine (Ile), which showed low levels at day 60. These results provide information on the changes in the composition of antlers, in cases of early cutting.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.314-319
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• 1999

The composition of biochemical components such as lipids, proteins and their amino acid components and inorganic elements in the ashes in unossified antlers from Cervus nippon Temminck var. mantchuricus grown in Korea were analyzed to obtain fundamental data for quality control. As a result, it was found that total lipids were 20.75% which was approximately similar contents with those of proteins (21.8%). Sixteen amino acids were identified from the hydrolysate of the protein fraction. Three gangliosides with very similar TLC patterns of those such as $GM_3$, $GM_1$ and $GM_{1a}$ were identified from the water soluble layer of Folch's partitions. Ash contents were revelaed to be much higher in the sponge layer (40.0%) than in the velvet layer (3.7%).

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.166-182
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• 2022

Deer antler velvet is widely used in traditional medicine for its anti-aging, antioxidant, and immunity-enhancing effects. However, few studies have reported on the discovery of probiotic strains for deer antler fermentation to increase functional ingredient absorption. This study evaluated the ability of probiotic lactic acid bacteria to enhance the concentrations of bioactive molecules (e.g., sialic acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid [GABA]) in extracts of deer antler velvet. Seventeen strains of Lactobacillus spp. that were isolated from kimchi and infant feces, including L. sakei, L. rhamnosus, L. brevis, and L. plantarum, and those that improved the life span of Caenorhabditis elegans were selected for evaluation. Of the 17 strains, 2 (L. rhamnosus LFR20-004 and L. sakei LFR20-007) were selected based on data showing that these strains increased both the sialic acid and GABA contents of deer antler extract after fermentation for 2 d and significantly improved the life span of C. elegans. Co-fermentation with both strains further increased the concentrations of sialic acid, GABA, and metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids and amino acids. We evaluated the biological effects of the fermented antler velvet (FAV) on the antibacterial immune response in C. elegans by assessing worm survival after pathogen infection. The survival of the C. elegans conditioned with FAV for 24h was significantly higher compared with that of the control worm group fed only normal feed (non-pathogenic E. coli OP50) exposed to E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella typhi, and Listeria monocytogenes. To evaluate the protective effects of FAV on immune response, cyclophosphamide (Cy), an immune-suppressing agent was treated to in vitro and in vivo. We found that FAV significantly restored viability of mice splenocytes and immune promoting-related cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-10, inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS], interferon [IFN]-γ, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α) were activated compared to non-fermented deer antlers. This finding indicated the protective effect of FAV against Cy-induced cell death and immunosuppressed mice. Taken together, our study suggests that immune-promoting antler velvet can be produced through fermentation using L. rhamnosus LFR20-004 and L. sakei LFR20-007.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.417-428
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• 2008

An experiment was conducted with 80 male rats for 4 weeks to investigate the effect of water soluble extracts(WSE) from different sections of farmed Elk(Cervus elaphus) antler on lipid metabolism and hematology. Antlers were divided into four sections of tip, upper, middle and base. Water soluble extract(35g/60ml) was prepared from each section of antler, and was administered orally to male Sprague- Dawley rats(10ml/kg body weight) once a day. Administration of WSE from upper, middle and base sections of antler decreased(P<0.0027) AST values at 3 weeks of feeding, however AST value was decreased(P< 0.0136) in the WSE of base section compared to that of control at 4 weeks of feeding. Administration of antler WSE for 4 weeks decreased total cholesterol in visceral fat(P<0.0035) and liver(P<0.0003) at 4 weeks of feeding compared to those of control. Feeding antler WSE for 4 weeks increased the compositions of C14:0(P<0.0037), C16:1(P<0.0061), C18:1(P<0.0066), C18:2(P< 0.0069) and C18:3(P<0.0035) in the visceral fat compared with that of control.