Phenolic Compounds and Elemental Composition of Rhodiola rosea (Crassulaceae) from Altai Mountains

Phenolic compounds in the underground parts (rhizomes with adventitious roots) were studied comparatively in Rhodiola rosea L. (Crassulaceae) plants collected from natural cenopopulations of the Altai  Mountains and cultivated in the Siberian Botanical Garden (Tomsk). Gallic acid, salidroside, and rosavin were identified in the samples. The salidroside content in wild R. rosea samples varied from 0.02 to 0.48% of the absolute dry weight; the rosavin content was 0.77-1.57%. The gallic acid content was approximately the same, 0.1%, in all samples. Cultivated R. rosea plants had a higher salidroside content in the underground organs as compared with plants from natural populations with a similar rosavin content. A rich and diverse elemental composition of the underground parts was observed in R. rosea plants growing in the Altai Mountains. In addition to common macro and trace elements, such as Mg, K, Fe, Mn, Rb, Cr, Sr, Zn, Ba, Mo, and Co, rare elements were detected, including Ti, Ga, Nb, La, Ho, Gd, etc. Based on the contents of chemical elements in the underground organs and soil, the R. rosea samples of different origins were divided into three groups. One group was characterized by a low element content in plants and a high content in soil. A second group was distinguished by a high content of elements in the underground plant parts and a low content in soil. A third group showed a high element content in both the underground plant parts and soil.