7. Scientific Explanation for Velvet Antler

Clearly the case for the pharmacological or bioactivity of velvet antler is very strong. However, there is not yet a unifying hypothesis to explain the many and varied effects of velvet antler in different animal species. The hypotensive effects have been explained as at least partly due to the actions of choline compounds. Choline compounds are not unique to velvet antlers. Other facets of biological activity ascribed to velvet antler are not so easy to explain, although Wang et al. (1985 cited by Wang et al. 1988) states that the anti–ulcer effects of velvet antler preparations is due to the presence of various polysaccharides. Velvet antler likely contains peptide growth factors (e.g. epidermal growth factor EGF), but concentrations would be low and would the concentrations retain their biological activity through processing? In respect to growth factors, however, EGF has been shown to replace estrogen in the stimulation of female genital tract development, a phenomenon that raises fascinating questions about the interrelationships between steroids and peptide growth factors. Steroids and growth factors may survive processing but to date there has been no systematic evaluations of the steroid composition of velvet antler published in the scientific literature. However, it seems most unlikely that steroids present in the velvet antler would be solely responsible for the observed androgenic effects. Rather compounds present in the antler are inducing steroid synthesis in the treated animals, presumably via effects on the hypothalamus or pituitary gland and then on the adrenal or testis.

Fulder (1980) proposed a general theory to explain the effects of these "antifatigue substances" which include pantocrin, in that the biologically active components are generally glycosides, where the active chemical groups are linked to sugar molecules. Fulder proposes that the primary site of action of the glycosides is the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. The most commonly used glycoside in western medicine is digitoxin, originally isolated from the plant commonly referred to as foxglove, which is well known and has medically accepted and potent effects of the cardiac system. This area of the glucoside/glycoside link is potentially very important and one where future studies might provide more insight into the nature and efficacy of some of the compounds present in many of the traditional medicines of the East.

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