Species-specific identification of donkey-hide gelatin and its adulterants using marker peptides.
Authors: Zhang Jinju, Wu Menghua, Ma Zhiguo, Zhang Ying, Cao Hui
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary Donkey-hide gelatin holds significant value in traditional Chinese medicine, yet authenticating its provenance remains problematic because gelatin from horses, cattle, and pigs can be used as cheaper substitutes without easy detection. Zhang and colleagues identified 12 species-specific marker peptides that distinguish donkey-hide gelatin from common adulterants by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, enabling detection of cattle and pig-hide gelatin adulteration at concentrations as low as 0.1%, and horse-hide gelatin at 0.5%. When applied to 18 commercial donkey-hide gelatin products, the method confirmed nine batches as authentic whilst raising suspicions about eight others, which appeared to contain equine material. For equine professionals, this advancement in molecular authentication techniques offers a validated analytical framework that could be adapted to verify the authenticity of equine-derived supplements, feeds, and medicinal products—an increasingly important consideration given the market prevalence of undisclosed ingredient substitution and the potential welfare or performance implications of such adulteration.
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Practical Takeaways
- •This analytical method enables quality control verification of donkey-hide gelatin products and detection of common adulterants—relevant for practitioners sourcing traditional remedies
- •The peptide marker approach provides a rapid, sensitive screening tool that could be applied to other animal-derived medicinal materials and food products
- •High adulteration rate (44%) in commercial products demonstrates need for verified sourcing if donkey-hide gelatin is used therapeutically
Key Findings
- •12 species-specific marker peptides identified to differentiate donkey, horse, cattle, and pig-hide gelatins using LC-MS/MS
- •Cattle and pig gelatin adulterants detected at 0.1% sensitivity; horse gelatin at 0.5% sensitivity
- •Among 18 commercial donkey-hide gelatin products, 9 were authentic while 8 were suspected adulterated with horse materials