The ergocalciferol and 25-hydroxyergocalciferol contents in cultivated
Agaricus bisporus and in five different wild mushroom species were de
termined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), using inter
nal standard methods, and the level of previtamin D-2 was screened. Th
e methods included saponification and extraction, purification using o
ne or two semipreparative HPLC steps, and quantification with analytic
al HPLC. The contents of ergocalciferol found in different mushroom sp
ecies varied significantly (0.21-29.82 mu g/100 g of fresh weight). Wi
ld mushrooms, especially Cantharellus cibarius and Cantharellus tubaef
ormis, contained high amounts of ergocalciferol, 12.8 and 29.82 mu g/1
00 g of fresh weight; respectively. The contents of 25-hydroxyergocalc
iferol were below the limit of detection in all mushrooms. The contrib
ution of previtamin D-2 to the total vitamin D activity was less than
10% of that of ergocalciferol in the mushroom species studied.