Systematic Review of Small-Molecule Compounds, Analytical Techniques, and Pharmacological Activities of Animal-derived Traditional Chinese Medicines

Animal-derived traditional Chinese medicines (ATCMs), which are prepared from whole animals, organs, or physiological and pathological products, have gained wide recognition and have become an integral part of traditional Chinese medicine in recent years. To provide a comprehensive reference on these agents, we systematically reviewed small-molecule compounds, analytical techniques, and pharmacological activities of ATCMs. Information and research progress regarding ATCMs were collected from scientific journals, Materials Medica, and scientific databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure). Various small-molecule compounds, including nitrogenous heterocyclic compounds, steroids, flavonoids, terpenoids, amino acids, and oligopeptides were summarized. Common analytical techniques applied to ATCMs include spectral and chromatographic techniques, of which hyphenated techniques are the most widely used. The primary pharmacological activities of small-molecule compounds in ATCMs include their effects on the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems, as well as their anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities. This systematic review provides a comprehensive reference for small-molecule ATCM compounds, analytical techniques, and pharmacological activities.