Velvet antler is widely used as a traditional medicine, and numerous studies have demonstrated its tremendous nutritional and medicinal values including immunity-enhancing effects. This study aimed to investigate different deer velvet extracts (Sample 1: raw extract, Sample 2: dried extract, and Sample 3: freeze-dried extract) for proximate composition, uronic acid, sulfated glycosaminoglycan, sialic acid, collagen levels, and chemical components using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-light mass spectrometry. In addition, we evaluated the cytotoxic effect of the deer velvet extracts on BV2 microglia, HT22 hippocampal cells, HaCaT keratinocytes, and RAW264.7 macrophages using the cell viability MTT assay. Furthermore, we evaluated acute toxicity of the deer velvet extracts at different doses (0, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg) administered orally to both male and female ICR mice for 14 d (five mice per group). After treatment, we evaluated general toxicity, survival rate, body weight changes, mortality, clinical signs, and necropsy findings in the experimental mice based on OECD guidelines. The results suggested that in vitro treatment with the evaluated extracts had no cytotoxic effect in HaCaT keratinocytes cells, whereas Sample-2 had a cytotoxic effect at 500 and 1000 μg/mL on HT22 hippocampal cells and RAW264.7 macrophages. Sample 3 was also cytotoxic at concentrations of 500 and 1000 μg/mL to RAW264.7 and BV2 microglial cells. However, the mice treated in vivo with the velvet extracts at doses of 500–2000 mg/kg BW showed no clinical signs, mortality, or necropsy findings, indicating that the LD50 is higher than this dosage. These findings indicate that there were no toxicological abnormalities connected with the deer velvet extract treatment in mice. However, further human and animal studies are needed before sufficient safety information is available to justify its use in humans.

High-income mushroom crops require complex farming. Therefore, we conducted a test to identify the optimum temperature for the production of antler-shaped Ganoderma lucidum using the King Oyster mushroom cultivation facility. T-N showed 0.28% of oak sawdust and 2.2% of nutritional source. The pH of oak sawdust was 6.0, indicating weak acidity, and that of rice steel was 6.6, indicating neutrality in nutrition source. Study on the quality characteristics of mushrooms showed that the number of days at 25°C were 5~6 and those at 30°C were 3~5; the representative length at 25°C was 57.5 mm and that at 30°C was 92.2 mm; the biological weight at 25 °C was 43 g, which was greater than that at 30°C.

This study was carried out to identify medicinal mushrooms with protective effects against oxidative stress in PC12 neuronal cell line, followed by evaluation of their antioxidant property. Extracts of medicinal mushrooms, including Ganoderma lucidum extract (GLE), antler-shaped Ganoderma lingzhi extract (AGLE), Hericium erinaceus extract (HEE), and Sanghuangporus baumii extract (SBE), were screened for cytotoxicity using MTT assay. None of the extracts up to 10 μg/ml concentration affected cell viability. These extracts were further checked for their protective effect against oxidative stress-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Exposure to 50 μM H₂O₂ induced ROS generation in PC12 cells, which was inhibited only by treatment with AGLE. In addition, inhibition of H₂O₂-induced ROS generation by AGLE was found to be in a dose-dependent manner (2.5, 5, and 10 μg/ml). Microscopic examination of DCF fluorescence for detection of ROS showed a similar pattern. Further, antioxidant activity of AGLE was determined by ABTS radical cation assay, and its IC50 was found to be 46.90±0.31 μg/ml. Taken together, these results suggest that AGLE may help to alleviate oxidative stress in PC12 neuronal cells.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of pasture grazing and barn feeding system on the growth performance, weight gain and velvet antler productivity in Elk. Twelve 5-year-old elk stags about 273 kg were stratified by weight and randomly assigned by feeding system (a pasture grazing and a barn feeding, n=6). The average feed intake were not signigicant difference between two groups. Average daily gain for grazing and barn feeding group was 0.25 g and 0.29 g respectively, showing no significant difference. Velvet antler yield for grazing and barn feeding group was 7,700 g and 6, 960 g respectively, with no significant difference. In conclusion grazing group was better than barn feeding group in feed intake, body weight gain and velvet antler productivity. However, there were no statistical significant difference between the two group. These results may serve as the basis for further study of deer feeding system in Korea and further study needed to examine the grazing intensity and economic efficiency.

Ganoderma lucidum has been reported to have various biological activities including antioxidant activity. The objective of this study was to compare the antioxidant effects between Ganoderma lucidum (GL) and antler-shaped fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum (AGL). In vitro antioxidant activities were examined by 2,2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH) and 1,2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activities of GL and AGL ethanol extracts. In the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities of GL and AGL ethanol extracts, antioxidant activities of AGL extracts (IC50, 66.94 μg/ml and 131.23 μg/ml) was showed higher than GL extracts (IC50, 83.93 μg/ml and 164.54 μg/ml). Total polyphenol content and total flavonoid content (38.00 g GAE/kg extract and 11.58 g NE/kg extract) of AGL were found higher as compared to GL (34.23 g GAE/kg extract and 3.46 g NE/kg extract). In summary, the results of this study demonstrate that AGL extracts had higher antioxidant activities to GL.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not the antler-shaped fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum (GL) has an anti-inflammatory effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-activated RAW 264.7 macrophage-like cells. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of GL, we examined the inflammatory mediators such as the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), activator protein 1 (AP-1), inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). LPS/IFN-γ-induced cellular NO production was significantly decreased in GL-treated RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, Western blotting analysis results demonstrated that reduced protein expression of MAPK families (such as extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun amino-terminal kinase, and p38 MAPK) and AP-1-targeting inflammatory enzymes (iNOS, COX-2, IL-1β, and IL-6). These results indicated that GL modulates the MAPK/AP-1 signal pathway in inflammatory process. In conclusion, the present study provides important evidence that GL can potentially be used to reduce LPS/IFN-γ-induced inflammatory response by inhibiting the MAPK/AP-1 signaling pathways.

Antler of deer have been used in Asia as a dietary supplementary or alternative medical substance. The antler contains various biological active substances, including ganglioside has been known to promote growth, bone hyperactivity, immune function, protein synthesis and various pharmacological action. Therefore, this study was to investigate the effect of antler on productivity of broiler chicks. Feeding trial has a number of 240 broiler chicks was conducted to investigate the effect of antler extract (AE) treated feeds on body performance, breast meat composition and characteristics in broilers. Each treatment had 15 chicks with 4 replications. The supplementation level of AE treated feeds was 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9% in the experimental diets. The results obtained were summarized as follows: Average body weight gain was significantly (p<0.05) increased in broilers fed with AE compared to that of control during overall periods. Especially, the body weight gain of 0.9% AE treated chickens showed highly increased by 6.0% compare to the control. Average feed intake was not significantly different among the treatments. Average feed efficiency was significantly (p<0.05) improved by 4% in broiler chicks fed with AE compare to that of control. Average breast meat composition and concentration of cholesterol were also not different by feeding the AE. In breast meat characteristics, the shear force (kg/0.5inch2) of breast meat showed similar results in all treatments. The cooking loss of breast meat was significantly lower in the chick fed AE than that of control. But the water holding capacity (%) of breast meat was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the chicks fed AE than that of control. In breast meat color of chicks were not significantly different in all treatments. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and volatile base nitrogen (VBN) value were not showed different with all treatments. Also, the fatty acids composition of breast meat were showed similar results in all treatments. In conclusion, the dietary feed of AE tended to improve the body weight gain and feed efficiency, but did not influenced breast meat characteristics of broiler chicks

This study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary whole-crop barley silage on average daily feed intake, average daily weight gain, velvet antler yield and economic efficacy in sika deer during growth. A total of 24 sika deer (initially 56.3 kg BW) of 24 months age were allotted in arrangement in a completely randomized design. The three treatments were: T1(hay diet), T2(whole-crop barley silage), and T3(50% hay+50% whole-crop barley silage). Concentrate feed were 1.5% feeding of body weight with all groups. Average daily weight gain of T3 was higher than those of others for the entire experimental period. Average daily feed intake of sika deer in decreasing order was as follows; T1>T3>T2. The velvet antler yield was highest in T3 group (315±112 g) compared with T1 (276±59 g) and T2 (283±108 g). However, there was no significant difference in average daily feed intake, average daily weight gain, velvet antler yield(p>0.05). In economic efficacy, T3 was about 15-29% higher than that of T1 and T2. In conclusion, the mixed feeding of 50% hay and 50% whole-crop barley silage was more effective in average daily feed intake, average daily weight gain, velvet antler yield and economic efficacy in sika deer

We investigated the effect of glutathione supplementation on body weight gain, feed intake, velvet antler yield and economic analysis in elk bulls. A total 14, 2-year old male elks were divided into 2 groups with control or glutathione treatment. Elks were fed concentrate feed at the level of 1.5% relative to body weight (3.1 kg). and allowed to consumed hay as roughage ad libitum. Glutathione was supplemented at the level of 6 mg/kg. Average daily gains (ADG) for 2-years old elks were 234.1± 7 and 247.6±22 kg in control and glutathione fed groups, respectively. Treated group had higher ADG than control (p<0.05). Individual daily DM intakes were 5.34±0.70 and 5.64±0.71 kg in control and glutathione supplemented groups, respectively. Glutathione-fed group showed an additional intake of 298 g on an average. Production of velvet antlers for elk yearlings was 4,229±720 g and 4,653±960 g in control and glutathione supplemented groups respectively. Analysis of economics efficiency revealed 8% higher revenue index in glutathione supplemented groups. In conclusion, glutathione supplementation showed increase of DM intake and ADG in elk bulls, and could also increase velvet antler production.

본 연구에서는 젖산발효를 통해서 얻어진 목이버섯과 녹각 추출액 혼합물의 항산화 및 생리활성평가를 수행하였다. 녹각 추출액의 GABA생성 최적조건에서 probiotics 및 기능성 강화를 위해 목이버섯을 2.5% 첨가하여 30℃에서 7일간 젖산발효를 하였다. 발효 7일 pH 5.06, 산도 0.77%로 나타났으며 1.3×108 CFU/mL로 높은 균수를 유지하였고 GABA를 1.4% 생성하는 것으로 나타났다. 목이버섯을 첨가했을 때 젖산균 발효물의 물성이 개선되며 단기간에 고농도의 GABA를 생성하는 것으로 나타났다. 녹각 추출액의 젖산발효물의 세포 생존율을 실험한 목이버섯 2.5% 조건에서 발효 전 6 mg/mL에서 독성이 나타났으나 발효 후 독성이 완화되는 것으로 나타났다. 발효 후 6 mg/mL 농도에서는 5.58 μM로 발효 후 NO 생성이 감소되는 것으로 나타났다. 결론적으로 녹각 추출액과 목이버섯 혼합물의 젖산균을 이용한 정치배양을 통해 단기간에 고농도의 GABA 생산이 가능하였으며, 젖산 발효물은 세포독성 완화 효과 및 NO 생성을 저해하는 것으로 나타났다. 따라서 발효물은 GABA, probiotic, 식이섬유 등을 함유하여 기능성 식품소재로 이용이 가능할 것으로 기대된다.