Exploring vitamin D 3 profile of epiphytic lichen forming fungi in forest ecosystems: Influence of habitat-dependent ecological variables.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Bench and ecological analytical study measuring biochemical contents in wild lichens; Level 5 by CEBM (no human data).
PubMed 40915670 · doi:10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101634
What was done
Fourteen epiphytic lichen species were collected using stratified sampling from four mountainous forests in the Marmara Region of Türkiye. Researchers evaluated three extraction methods (olive oil-based maceration, Soxhlet, and supercritical CO2) followed by HPLC quantification of vitamin D3. Concentrations were analyzed across six ecological variables: study area layer, stand type, host tree species, altitude, aspect, and air humidity and temperature using one-way ANOVA.
What was found
Olive oil-based maceration was the most efficient extraction technique. Lichen vitamin D3 concentrations ranged from 0.6 to 20.33 μg/g. Concentrations differed significantly by lichen species (p = 0.024), forest layer, stand, altitude, and tree species, with *Bryoria fuscescens*, *Evernia prunastri*, and *Pseudevernia furfuracea* yielding the highest amounts, especially in *Pinus nigra*-dominated coniferous stands in Uludağ. Aspect and air humidity showed no significant association with vitamin D3 levels.
Why it matters
This work identifies specific wild epiphytic lichens as a potential natural, non-animal source of vitamin D3 for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical use and outlines ecological factors affecting its accumulation.
Limits
The abstract does not state the total number of physical specimens or replicate samples analyzed. As an ecological and analytical study, it does not assess human bioavailability, safety, or the environmental impact of large-scale harvesting.
Cited by
- supports Lichen species synthesize vitamin D3 and can be utilized as a vegan source of vitamin D3.