Menthol based hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent for extraction and purification of ergosterol using response surface methodology.

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to various diseases, but could be rectified via fortified food stuffs or supplementation. In this study 39 different hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents were evaluated for green extraction of ergosterol from mushroom. Extraction parameters (e.g. time, solvent volume) were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) and a maximum extraction yield of 6995.00 µg ergosterol/g dry weight mushroom was attained with menthol: pyruvic acid. The extracted ergosterol was purified using a novel methodology and the extraction solvent was reused for six cycles, while retaining extraction efficiency (up to 28%). The ergosterol was exposed to ultra-violet radiation for conversion to ergocalciferol (vitamin D) resulting in a yield of ergocalciferol that was equivalent to 2142.01 µg/g dry weight mushroom.