Variability of Chemical Elements and Biologically Active Polyphenols in Lonicera caerulea subsp. Altaica (Caprifoliaceae) Plant Organs Along an Altitudinal Gradient

The variability of the content of macro- and trace elements and fractions of flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acids in organs of the honeysuckle Lonicera caerulea subsp. altaica plants collected from indigenous populations in Gorny Altai (Seminsky Ridge), Russia, has been examined. Statistically significant positive correlations between the altitude of the plant growth site and the content of Cu in leaves, Ca, Zn and Cd in stems, and K and Na uptake rate by leaves are found. A physiologically important ratio of biophylic elements such as Fe/Mn in leaves are found to decrease with increasing altitude. The main polyphenolic components of L. caerulea subsp. altaica leaves showed altitudinal ranges of 1176-3216 mg/100 g for hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives (chlorogenic and dicoffeylcinchonic acids), 342-1442 mg/100 g for phlavonols (quercetin glucosides), and 757-1988 mg/100 g for flavons (luteoline and apigenine glucosides). The content of flavons positively correlated with the growth site altitude. The content of flavonols, on the contrary, decreased with increased altitude. The accumulation levels of flavons and flavonols negatively correlated with the content of Cu in leaves; Ca, Zn, and Cd in stems; and K/Na in leaves and K/Ca in stems. The derivatives of hydroxycinnamic acid correlated with accumulation rates of Ca, K, Mg, Zn, Mn, Sr, and Cd, and the ratios K/Ca, Ca/Na, and Cu/Zn in leaves.