Morphological and chemical variability of phenotypes of Rhodiola rosea cultivated in north-west Russia

Introduction. In recent years, the use of medicinal plants in therapeutic and prophylactic preparations capable of regulating adaptive modifications aimed at maintaining human mental and physical functions in the face of constantly changing natural and social factors has become increasingly important. One interesting plant for medicinal use is Rhodiola rosea L., a member of the Crassulaceae family. This species is highly polymorphic both morphologically and chemically. The main raw material sources are the mountains of southern Siberia (Altai, Sayan), Tuva, and Transbaikalia. However, domestic raw material sources are insufficient, making it necessary to expand them and identify phenotypes with high levels of biologically active substances among cultivated populations.

Aim. To establish the morphometric characteristics of different phenotypes of Rhodiola rosea cultivated in Northwest Russia and to conduct a comparative analysis of secondary metabolites in samples of underground organs of Rhodiola rosea of different phenotypes using high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC).

Materials and methods. The study subjects were 24 samples of Rhodiola rosea rhizomes and roots of various phenotypes, collected in 2024 during the flowering and fruiting phases at the medicinal plant nursery of the St. Petersburg Chemical and Pharmaceutical University (Leningrad Region, Vsevolozhsk District, 38 km of Priozerskoye Highway). Extracts from the raw materials were obtained using a Sapphire-4.0-TTC ultrasonic bath (Russia). 70 % ethyl alcohol was used as the extractant. HPTLC analysis was performed on a CAMAG instrument (Switzerland) using MERCK HPTLC plates silica gel 60 F 254 (20 × 10 cm).

Results and discussion. 70 % ethyl alcohol was used as the extractant. The resulting solutions were analyzed by HPTLC in a solvent system of chloroform, 96 % alcohol, and water (25 : 16 : 1). After scanning densitometry at 254 nm, the densitograms of individual tracks were compared to identify Rhodiola rosea phenotypes with higher levels of biologically active compounds. A comparison of the tracks of 24 Rhodiola rosea underground organ samples revealed female samples (No. 1, 7, 8 and 14) and male (No. 15, 18, 21, 23 and 24) samples, ranging in height from 23 to 41 cm, were proposed as promising for further study and cultivation.

Conclusion. Morphometric characteristics of various phenotypes of Rhodiola rosea cultivated in the north-west of Russia were established. HPTLC analysis of alcohol extracts from Rhodiola rosea rhizomes and roots of different phenotypes revealed both female and male samples had higher levels of secondary metabolites (phenylpropanoids and simple phenols). The height of the plants ranged from 23 to 41 cm.

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