Secondary metabolites in rhizomes of wild Rhodiola rosea representatives from various ecological and geographical conditions in the Altai Mountains

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify the most productive cenopopulations (CP) of the rare species Rhodiola rosea based on the accumulation of biologically active compounds in the rhizomes in 14 CP from different ecological and geographical conditions of Altai Mountains. The composition and content of 11 components, including salidroside, tyrosol, (+)-catechin, epigallocatechin gallate, rosarin, rosavin, rosin, cinnamyl alcohol, rhodiosin, and rhodionin, were determined by HPLC analysis. The composition of phenolic compounds (PC) in the studied CPs of R. rosea was stable. The amounts of each of the 11 components of the PC and groups of compounds were different in the CPs from different ecological and geographical conditions. The highest and lowest levels of phenylpropanoids (PP) were found in individuals from the Ust-Kan region. These are CP1, from the Baschelaksky ridge, 2000 m above sea level (masl), and CP7 in the Talkash River valley, 1200 m above sea level (4613.1 ± 170.1 and 1362.0 ± 57.0 mg/100 g, respectively). The highest content of PP was found in the samples from seven CPs. Of these, 60% grew in the milder climatic conditions (Ust-Kan region). In terms of individual variability in PC content in two model CPs of R. rosea, a significantly higher content of most PC groups was found in the representatives from more stressful high-mountain conditions (2000 masl) in alpine zone, compared with the same indicators in plants growing at lower altitude in forest zone (1500 masl) (classification of N.I. Makunina, 2016). Selection of the most productive forms of this valuable medicinal species would allow for their in vitro introduction and micropropagation into the culture.