Mineral Composition of Blackcurrant (Ribes Nigrum L.) Fruits and Leaves

Plants as living systems are characterized by the appropriate degree of accumulation of macro- and microelements, which, acting as factors of the external environment, are basic modulators for synthesizing biologically active substances. Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L., Grossulariaceae) is widespread worldwide. Berries, leaves, and buds are medicinal raw materials in folk medicine. The regularity of inorganic elements accumulation in this plant and their impact on the quality of raw materials are topical and need to be studied.

This work aimed to study the mineral composition of R. nigrum raw materials collected in Western Ukraine (Ivano-Frankivsk and Ternopil regions) and find the regularity of their accumulation in the plant parts and from the soils.

The elemental compositions of R. nigrum fruits and leaves, as well as the soils of the growth places, were studied using the method of atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma iCAP 7000 Duo.

The content of 19 inorganic elements in R. nigrum raw materials was established. Their quantities don’t differ significantly depending on the growth places. All the fruits had high K, Na, Mg, P, and Ca contents, which were slightly lower in leaves. Thus, the fruits contain 590-675 mg/kg of Mg, while in leaves, there are just 98-106 mg/kg. Most of Fe was accumulated in the fruits (73-85 mg/kg). The content of Mn was observed in the leaves (57-64 mg/kg), slightly higher than in the fruits (47-51 mg/kg). The content of heavy metals in the objects was within the permitted limits of European Pharmacopeia. The results testify to the inverse relationship between the content of most elements in the soils and the coefficient of their accumulation in the plant.

The content of macro- and microelements in R. nigrum fruits and leaves had similar profiles but differed in their quantitates. The regularity of element accumulation in R. nigrum raw materials corresponds to the following profile in accordance with their quantitative content in the raw materials: K> Na> P> Mg> Ca> Si> Fe> Mn> Al> Se> Zn> Cu> Co> I> Pb> Ni> Mo> Sr> Cd. The regularity of their accumulation in the plant parts from the soils was established.