Table 1.
A chronological list of animal biles used therapeutically in China from the earliest times
| Chinese name (Pin Yin) | English name | Latin nomenclature | Earliest recorded book, year and author | Bile salt and alcohol composition1 | Bile pigment composition1 |
| Gou Dan | Dog | Canis familiaris | Prescriptions for Fifty-two Types of diseases (c. 475 to 221 BCE); author(s) unknown | TC, TCDC, TDC[87,102,166] | BDG, BDGC, BMX[167,168] |
| Niu Dan | Ox | Bos taurus domesticus; Bubalus bulalis | TC, TDC, TCDC, TLC, GC, GDC, GCDC, GLC, AC[91,100,107,166] | BMG, BMGC, BDG, UCB, BV[167,169,170] | |
| Li Yu Dan | Common carp | Cyprinus carpio | Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic (c. 475 to 206 BCE); author(s) unknown | TCDC, TC, TDC, AC, α-cyprinol-26 SO4, α-latimerol-SO4[87,91,107] | BV, BMG, PB, UCB[169-171] |
| Shu Dan | Mouse | Mus musculus | Variorum of Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic (c. 492 CE); Tao Hong-Jing (c. 452 to 536 CE) | TC, TCDC, TDC, T-β-MC, T-ω-MC, TUDC[172] | BMG, BDG, UCB[173] |
| Ran She Dan | Python | Python molurus bivittatus | TPC, TC, TDC[87,106,107] | BV, BMG, UCB[174] | |
| Yang Dan | Goat and sheep | Capra hircus | TC, TCDC, TDC, GC, GDC[87,100,107,166] | BMG[167,168] | |
| Zhu Dan | Pig | Sus scrofa domestica | Records of Famous Physicians (c. 510 CE); Tao Hong-Jing (c. 452 to 536 CE) | GHC, GHDC, GHOC, GC, GCDC, GDC, THC, THDC, TC, TCDC, TDC[89,94,166] | BMG, BV[167,168,170] |
| Fu She Dan | Pallas pit viper | Agkistrodon halys | TC, TAC, TCDC, TDC[107] | BV, BMG, UCB[174] | |
| Ji Dan | Chicken | Gallus gallus domesticus | TAC, TC, TCDC[89,166] | BV, BMG, BMGC, BDG, BDGC, UCB[167,175] | |
| Xiang Dan | Elephant | Elephas maximus | Lei’s Treatise on Preparation of Drugs (c. the 5th century); Lei Xiao (c. the 5th century) | 3α,7α,25,26-tetrahydroxy-5β-cholestane SO4[107] | ND |
| Li Yu Dan | Murrel | Ophicephalus argus | Ri Hua-Zi’s Collected Materia Medica (c. the 6th century); Ri Hua-Zi (c. the 6th century) | TCDC, TC, TDC[107] | BV, BMG, PB, UCB[168,170,171] |
| Xiong Dan | Bear | Selenarctos thibetanus; Ursus arctos | Treatise on Properties of Drugs (c. 643 CE or earlier); Zhen Quan (c. 540 to 643 CE) | TUDC, TC, TCDC, TDC[66] | BR, BFL, BFU[70] |
| Ye Zhu Dan | Wild boar | Sus scrofa | A Dietetic Materia Medica (c. 710 CE); Meng Xian (c. 621 to 714 CE) | GHC[87] | BMG, BV[167,168,170] |
| Jiao Yu Dan | Shark | Mustelus manazo | 5β-scymnol SO4[107] | BV, BMG, PB, UCB[168,170,171] | |
| Qing Yu Dan | Black carp | Mylopharyngodon piceus | 5α-cyprinol-26 SO4[107] | BV, BMG, PB, UCB [168,170,171] | |
| Ling Yang Dan | Antelope | Saiga tatarica | Medical Secrets of an Official (c. 752 CE); Wang Tao (c. 702 to 772 CE) | TC, TCDC, TDC[87,107] | ND |
| Huan Yu Dan | Grass carp | Ctenopharyngodon idellus | A Supplement to Materia Medica (c. 758 CE); Chen Zang-Qi (c. the 8th century) | TCDC, TC, TDC, 5α-cyprinol-26 SO4[107] | BV, BMG, PB, UCB[168,170,171] |
| Hu Dan | Tiger | Panthera tigris | TC, TCDC, TDC[107] | ND | |
| Ren Dan | Human | Homo sapiens | GC, GCDC, GDC, GUDC, GLC, TC, TCDC, TDC, TUDC, TLC, SGLC, STLC[13,176] | BDG, BMG, BMGG1, BDGC, BMGC, BMX, UCB[173] | |
| Ta Dan | Otter | Lutra lutra | Illustrated Pharmacopoeia (c. 1061 CE); Su Song (c. 1019 to 1101 CE) | TC, TCDC, TDC, GC, GDC[87,107] | ND |
| Hu Dan | Fox | Vulpes vulpes | TC, TCDC, TDC[87,107] | ND | |
| Wei Dan | Hedgehog | Erinaceus europaeus; Hemiechinus dauuricus | Amplified Materia Medica (c. 1116 CE); Kou Zong-Shi (c. the 12th century) | TCDC, TC, TDC[107] | ND |
| E Dan | Goose | Anser domestica | Pharmacopoeia in Southwestern China (c. in the middle of the 15th century); Lan Mao (c. 1397 to 1496 CE) | TCDC, TACDC, TPHC, TBC[107] | BV, BMG, BMGC, UCB[168] |
| Ya Dan | Duck | Anas domestica | Compendium of Materia Medica (1596 CE); Li Shi-Zhen (1518 to 1593 CE) | TCDC, TACDC, TPHC, TBC, 3α7α11β-trihydroxy-5β-cholan-24-oic acid[107] | BV, BDG, BDGC[177] |
| Lu Dan | Deer | Cervus nippon; Cervus elaphus | GC, GCDC, GDC[107] | ND | |
| Hou Dan | Horseshoe crab | Tachypleus tridentatus | Medium-chain fatty acids conjugated with sarcosyl taurine[22,107] | ND | |
| Ji Yu Dan | Crucian carp | Carassius auratus | α-cyprinol-26 SO4[107] | BV, BMG, PB, UCB[168,170,171] | |
| Bie Dan | Turtle | Amyda sinensis | 3α7α22-trihydroxy-5β-cholan-27-oic acid, sterocholanic acid, 3α12α22-trihydroxy-5β-cholan-27-oic acid[107] | BV, BMG, UCB[168,174] | |
| Gui Yu Dan | Mandarin fish | Siniperca chuatsi | TCDC, TC, TDC[107] | BV, BMG, PB, UCB[168,170,171] | |
| Wu Ya Dan | Crow | Corvus macrorhynchus | TCDC, TC, TDC[107] | BV[168] | |
| Yuan Dan | Soft-shelled turtle | Pelochelys bibroni | TsteroC, TsteroCDC, TsteroDC[107] | BV, BMG, UCB[168,174] | |
| Ha Ma Dan | Chinese forest frog | Rana limnocharis | Pentahydroxy C27 and C26 bile alcohol SO4, taurine conjugated C27 trihydroxy acids[107] | BV, UCB[168,170,178,179] | |
| Wu She Dan | Black snake | Zaocys dhumnades | TC, TAC, TCDC, TDC[107] | BV, BMG, UCB[174] | |
| Gui Dan | Tortoise | Chinemys reevesii | TsteroC, TsteroCDC, TsteroDC[107] | ND | |
| Bian Fu Dan | Bat | Vespertilio superans; Pipistrellus abramus; Plecotus auritus; Rhinolophus ferrum-equnum | TC[107] | ND | |
| Ci Wu Dan | Raven | Corvus monedula dauuricus | A Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medica (c. 1765 CE); Zhao Xue-Min (1719 to 1805 CE) | TCDC, TC[107] | BV[168] |
| Mao Niu Dan | Yak | Bos grunniens | Jing Zhu Materia Medica (c. 1840 CE); Dan-Zeng Peng-Cuo (c. the 19th century) | TC, TCDC, TDC, GC, GCDC, GDC[107] | BMG, BMGC, BDG, UCB, BV[167,169,170] |
| Ye Niu Dan | Gaur | Bos gaurus | TC, TCDC, TDC, GC, GCDC, GUDC[107] | BMG, BMGC, BDG, UCB, BV[167,169,170] | |
| Shi Long Zi Dan | Skink | Eumeces chinensis Gray; Eumeces elegans; Sphenomorphus indicus | TC, TCDC, GHDC, Tvaranic acid, T3α,7α,12α-trihydroxy-5β-cholestan-27-oic acid[90,107] | BV, BMG, UCB[170] | |
| Ying Wu Dan | Parrot | Psittacula alexandri fasciata | TC, TCDC[107] | BV[168] | |
| Ma Dan | Horse | Equus caballus | TC[87,107] | BDG, BDGC, BMG, BMGC[175] | |
| Tu Jiu Dan | Vulture | Gypaetus barbatus aureus | TC, TCDC, TalloC[107] | ND | |
| Yuan Dan | Kite | Milvus korschun lineatus | Great Dictionary of Chinese Materia Medica (1977 CE); Jiangsu New Medical College | TC, TCDC, TalloC[107] | ND |
| Chan Chu Dan | Toad | Bufo bufo gargarizans; Bufo melanostictus | Bufol SO4, Ranol SO4, hexahydroxy-27-nor-C26-bile alcohol SO4[107] | BV[168,170,178,179] |
1
Bile salt and bilirubin compositions are shown according to the rank order of species from high to low, respectively. AC: Allocholate; C: Cholate; DC: Deoxycholate; GC: Glycocholate; GCDC: Glycochenodeoxycholate; GDC: Glycodeoxycholate; GHC: Glycohyocholate; GHDC: Glycohyodeoxycholate; GHOC: Glyco-3α-hydroxy-6-oxo-5β-cholate; GLC: Glycolithocholate; GUDC: Glycoursodeoxycholate; TAC: Tauroallocholate; TBC: Taurobitocholate; TC: Taurocholate; TCDC: Taurochenodeoxycholate; TDC: Taurodeoxycholate; THC: Taurohyocholate; THDC: Taurohyodeoxycholate; TLC: Taurolithocholate; T-β-MC: Tauro-β-muricholate; T-ω-MC: Tauro-ω-muricholate; TPC: Tauropythocholate; TPHC: Taurophocacholate; TsteroC: Taurosterocholate; TsteroCDC: Taurosterochenodeoxycholate; TsteroDC: Taurosterodeoxycholate; TUDC: Tauroursodeoxycholate; SGLC: Sulfoglycolithocholate; STLC: Sulfotaurolithocholate; BDG: Bilirubin diglucuronide; BDGC: Bilirubin diglucoside; BFL: Biliflavin; BFU: Bilifulvin; BMG: Bilirubin monoglucuronide; BMGC: Bilirubin monoglucoside; BMGG1: Bilirubin monoglucuronide monoglucoside; BMX: Bilirubin monoxyloside; BR: Bilirubin; BV: Biliverdin; PB: Phycobilin; UCB: Unconjugated bilirubin; ND: Not determined.