Investigation of "Signal" Constituents for the Evaluation of Animal Crude Drugs. I. Free Amino Acids and Total Amino Acids

The contents of free amino acids (FAA) and total amino acids (TAA; including peptide and protein forms) in 10 animal drugs were determined using precolumn-derivatization high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that the FAA and TAA content was characteristic for a particular animal crude drug. For example, Bezoar Bovis contained much more taurine relative to the FAA and TAA content compared with other crude drugs, and kokurozin contained much more TAA and much less secondary amino acids relative to TAA compared with koukuzin. FAA and TAA were proved to be "signal" constituents for the evaluation of animal crude drugs.