This study was designed to determine the nutritional profile and functional components of the NZT (New Zealand deer's tail, Cervus elaphus var. scoticus Lönnberg). Twenty-nine fatty acids, eighteen amino acids, twenty-five minerals, chondroitin, and phospholipids were detected by the auto-fatty acid analyzer, auto-amino acid analyzer, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrophotometer, absorbance measurements, and by weighing after separating, respectively. 7-Ketocholesterol was isolated from alcohol extract by silica gel column chromatography analysis. Four steroid hormones (androstene-3,17-dione, β-estradiol, testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone), one base and seven nucleosides, and N-acetylneuraminic acid were detected by a HPLC-photodiode array and HPLC-fluorescence detector. As a result, NZT was composed of many nutritional and functional ingredients found in New Zealand deer's antler (NZA) which was one of deer co-products, and it was considered that NZT could be a novel health food resource such as NZA.
Keywords: Cervus elaphus var. scoticus; New Zealand deer’s tail; Physicochemical property; Special byproducts of deer.