Analysis and Differences Research of Multiple Types of Chemical Components in Goat Horn from Different Producing Areas

  OBJECTIVE  To investigate the multiple types of chemical constituents in goat horns from different areas, then to provide data support for its resource utilization.

  METHODS  The contents of nucleosides, amino acids, inorganic elements, water-soluble proteins, total thiols and native thiols in 32 batches of goat horn from different producing areas were analyzed and evaluated by ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and spectrophotometry, respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant (PLS-DA) of 48 chemical components were applied to comprehensively evaluate the differences in producing areas of goat horns.

  RESULTS  9 nucleosides and 18 free amino acids were detected in goat horns, and the average total nucleoside and amino acid contents were 20.88 μg · g^-1 and 642.41 μg · g^-1, respectively. The average contents of water-soluble protein, total sulfhydryl group and free sulfhydryl group in goat horn were 51.07 mg · g^-1, 22.48 μmol · g^-1 and 9.97 μmol · g^-1, respectively. 5 major elements, 9 essential trace elements and 4 heavy metal elements were detected, with an average amounts of 45.09 mg · g^-1, 295.32 μg · g^-1 and 7.74 μg · g^-1, respectively. The results of PCA and PLS-DA showed that based on the analysis results of 48 chemical components, there were significant differences among the goat horns from different regions of China. There was a significant difference between the goat horns from southwestern part of China and the ones from eastern and northern parts of China. The comprehensive score of goat horn in east China was higher.

  CONCLUSION  The resource-based components contained in goat horn from different regions show little differences, but the contents of these components exhibit significant differences. The contents of resource-based components in east China were higher than those in other regions. The results of this study can provide some reference for the selection and comprehensive utilization of goat horns from different regions.