[Characterization and quantification of dermatan sulfate from donkey skin]

Dermatan sulfate (DS), a recently known antithrombotic glycosaminoglycan, was isolated and purified from donkey skin. Physiochemical characteristics of the glycan, including constituent analysis, electrophoretic behaviour, molecular mass, specific lyase degradations, IR and PMR spectra were described, using porcine skin-origin dermatan sulfate as a standard reference. Contents of DS in donkey skin and its gelatinized preparations (Ejiao) were also measured. Results indicate that the presence of DS may explain the long reputed clinical efficacy of donkey skin and Ejiao in treating serious symptoms associated with what has been called endogenous wind in traditional Chinese medicine.