Table 2. Components of fetal bovine serum (FBS) in commercial products

Category Components
Proteins components Serum proteins AlbuminAntithrombin-IIIFibronectinGlobulins (e.g., Immunoglobulins such as IgG)Hemoglobin beta fetal chainKininogenLamininPlasminogen (precursor of plasmin)Serum spreading factorα1-Antitrypsin (protease inhibitor)α-2-HS-glycoprotein (fetal)α2-Macroglobulin (protease inhibitor)β-2-Glycoprotein I
Transport proteins ApolipoproteinTranscortinTransferrin (e.g., Hemiferrin)α1-Lipoproteinβ1-Lipoprotein
Enzymes Alanine aminotransferase (ALT/GPT)Alkaline phosphataseAspartate aminotransferase/Glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (AST/GOT)Cone cGMP-specific 3′,5′-cyclic phosphodiesterase (bovine)Lactate dehydrogenaseLactoperoxidasePhosphokinaseProthrombinaseTransaminaseγ-Glutamyl transferase
Hormones Adrenocorticotropic hormoneCorticosteroidsFollicle-stimulating hormoneGlucagonGrowth hormone (bovine)InsulinLuteinizing hormoneParathyroid hormonePituitary glandotropic factorsProstaglandinsProlactinTestosteroneThyroid hormonesThyroxineVasopressin
Growth factors and cytokines Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)Endothelial cell growth factor (ECGF)Epidermal growth factor (EGF)Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)Glial growth factorInsulin-like growth factor (IGF) (e.g., IGF-binding protein 2, IGF-binding protein 4, IGF- II)InterferonsInterleukinsNerve growth factor (NGF)Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)Prepro-insulin-like growth factor ITransforming growth factor (TGF) (e.g., TGFβ1)
Fatty acids and lipids CholesterolEthanolamineFree and protein-bound fatty acidsPhosphatidylethanolaminePhospholipidsTriglycerides
Carbohydrates FructoseGalactoseGlucoseGlycolytic metabolitesMannoseRibose
Nonprotein/nitrogens Amino acidsCreatininePolyaminesPurines/pyrimidinesUreaUric acid
Vitamins Retinol/retinoic acid (vitamin A)Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)Vitamin B-Group: Biotin Cobalamin Folic acid Niacinamide/nicotinic acid Pantothenic acid Pyridoxine/pyridoxalphosphate Riboflavin Thiamineα-Tocopherol (vitamin E)
Minerals Ca, Cl, Cr, Cu, F, Fe, I, K, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Se, Sn, Zn
Inorganic compounds Alkaline phosphatePhosphate
Others Bilirubin, CO, CO2
These data were modified from those of Brunner et al. (2010), Chelladurai et al. (2021), Honn et al. (1975), and Zheng et al. (2006).