Fractionated Substances from Maral (Cervus elaphus sibiricus) Velvet Antlers in Functional Foods

Velvet antlers are non-ossified antlers of maral (Cervus elaphus sibiricus) harvested during the growth phase. They are a common raw material in biologically active supplements with reliable preventive and therapeutic effects. This new technology provides a high-quality fractionation of raw velvet antlers that expands the potential application of velvet antler products in functional foods. The article describes the biochemical profile of substances derived from maral velvet antlers obtained by fractionation. The raw maral velvet antlers were fractionated using percolation, high-temperature hydrolysis, and subcritical extraction. The samples were dried to a moisture content of 5–10%. The analysis involved the following parameters: proteins, fats, ash, moisture, macro- and microelements, amino acids, fatty acids, and molecular weight distribution of peptide fractions. The blood and cartilage-derived substances contained a high-value protein fraction (74.29–80.59%) with an amino acid score ranging from 97 to 227% for threonine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, and tryptophan. The analysis of peptide fractions revealed the presence of low-molecular-weight peptides (< 2.9 kDa), with the highest concentration in the cartilage-derived substance. Regarding the mineral composition, the blood and lymph fraction proved to be rich in calcium (16,590.00 mg/100 g), sodium (799.10 mg/100 g), magnesium (319.80 mg/100 g), and zinc (6.40 mg/100 g) while the cartilage contained a lot of potassium (408.60 mg/100 g) and iron (54.30 mg/100 g). Phosphorus was the predominant element across all mineral fractions, with a concentration of 14,000.00 mg/100 g. The biochemical composition of the substances fractionated from maral (Cervus elaphus sibiricus) velvet antlers demonstrated a high biological value and a strong potential for the functional food industry.