Chemotypic Plasticity of Potentilla erecta (L.) Raeusch. Across Elevational Gradients in the Ukrainian Carpathians

Potentilla erecta (L.) Raeusch. is a widely used medicinal species valued for its astringent, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. This study examined the variation in hydrolysable tannin and flavonoid content in rhizomes of wild-growing populations collected along an elevational gradient in the Ukrainian Carpathians (180–2020 m above sea level). Rhizomes from fifteen populations were analyzed using pharmacopoeial methods, including thin-layer chromatography for tannins and spectrophotometry for flavonoids. Tannin levels ranged from 15.57% to 31.82%, while flavonoid contents varied between 0.23% and 0.40%, expressed as a percentage of dry weight. Both metabolites showed a strong positive correlation with altitude (r = 0.88 for tannins; r = 0.84 for flavonoids), indicating a clear influence of elevation on their accumulation. The highest concentrations were consistently found in high-mountain populations. These results suggest that environmental factors associated with increasing elevation, such as reduced temperature and enhanced ultraviolet radiation, play a significant role in shaping the phytochemical profile of P. erecta. The study contributes to the understanding of altitudinal effects on secondary metabolite accumulation in mountain plants and provides a basis for further ecological and pharmacological-oriented research related to this species.