Effect of UV irradiation on Chlorella vulgaris to induce Vitamin D

Abstract

Vitamin D plays significant role in the regulation of calcium. Vitamin D deficiency is increasing problem throughout the globe. Vitamin D deficiency leads to the rickets in children’s and osteocalcemia in adults. Chlorella vulgaris is aquatic unicellular green microalgae mainly utilized as the dietary supplements. Chlorella vulgaris does not consist vitamin D2 but has significant amount of ergosterol. Ergosterol is the precursor of the ergocalciferol (vitamin D2). Our objective was to induce the vitamin D in C. vulgaris by UV irradiation. C. vulgaris cultured in the Bold’s Basal media (BBM) on orbital shaker under controlled conditions. The culture was irradiated by UV radiations. The irradiated sample was saponified by refluxing through methanolic KOH. Vitamin D2 was extracted using Hexane. Extracted samples were analyzed by thin layer chromatography. TLC results of extracted samples were compared with standards of Vitamin D2. TLC plate was developed in Hexane –Diethyl ether (4:1) solvent system. TLC proved the ergocalciferol i.e. vitamin D2 induced in C. vulgaris due to irradiation of UV light.