Composition of Biologically Active Substances and Antioxidant Activity of New Zealand Deer Velvet Antler Extracts

Deer velvet antler was subjected to the extraction process using boiling water at three different temperatures (100, 110 and $120^{\circ}C$) and 70% ethanol solution. Functional components such as uronic acid, sulfated-glycosaminoglycans (sulfated-GAGs) and sialic acid in the extracts were analyzed, and their antioxidant activities were investigated using several in vitro models. Uronic acid and sulfated-GAGs content of each extract significantly decreased with increasing extraction temperature (p<0.05), while the residues obtained from the upper and middle part of the antler had a higher uronic acid content than the residues obtained from the base section. Sialic acid contents were highest in compounds extracted at $110^{\circ}C$, followed by 120 and $100^{\circ}C$. The 70% ethanol extracts also had a high levels of uronic acid content, but not for sulfated-GAGs and sialic acid. All extracts showed good antioxidant ability in a dose-dependant manner, with the $100^{\circ}C$ residue exhibiting the strongest activity compared to the 110 and $120^{\circ}C$ extracts. In relation to the hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and reduction power, the 70% ethanol extract exhibited the strongest activity. Furthermore, the velvet antler extracts inhibited apoptosis in hydrogen peroxide-induced PC-12 cells.