Research and development of Chinese medicinal resources of elk and thoughts on its resources industrialization / 中草药

ABSTRACT

As a precious Chinese medicinal resource, the antler, bone, flesh, and blood of Elaphurus davidianus (elk) have been used in Chinese medicine for over 2 000 years. However, they had been out of use for more than 100 years since the deer was extinct in the wild in China. Nowadays, as the reintroduction of elk population in China, they have increased rapidly and aroused a great interest in studies on the protection and utilization of biological resources. Based on analysis of the development and conservation of the elk resources, the strategies of resources industrialization of elk biological resources were put forward. Firstly, the combination by development model of wild domestication and artificial breeding should be established. Secondly, basic researches on the rational utilization of the elk resources need to be carried out. Thirdly, a series of products originated from Milu resources should be developed. All these strategies could promote the resources industrialization of elk in agriculture, industry, commerce, health care products, food, cosmetics, and industrial processing equipment and technology of Chinese medicine. They could also guide and promote the comprehensive utilization and protection of elk biological resources for sustainable development.