Brazilian researchers are developing a lab-grown alternative to ejiao, a traditional medicine made from donkey skin
Carla Molento, a professor of animal welfare at the Federal University of Parana and head of its Cellular Animal Science Laboratory, is spearheading the project.
The veterinarian said her team was working towards “a novel system ready for scale production” of donkey hide gelatin in a bid to curb the species’ rapid decline.
“We are hoping to offer a donkey collagen product which retains all the qualities of the conventional one, as it will be encoded by the same DNA,” she said.
“Except that we will be able to ensure its purity, as none of the contamination such as heavy metals and disease risks like pathogens exist in the new production system.”
