The aim of the study was to determine the effect of road traffic on the chemical composition of elderberry flowers and fruits. The raw material for the study was collected from sixteen different wild stands in south-east Poland. Each stand was located at a different distance from roads, carrying different loads of traffic. The raw material was collected from June (flower) to August (fruit) 2009 and dried at 30°C. Determination of the content of flavonoids (flavonols converted into quercetin) was performed by spectrophotometry according to the Polish Pharmacopoeia VIII (2008) procedure. Some minerals, including heavy metals (Cr, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd, Ni, Fe and Mn), were determined with the ICP-AES method after dry digestion of the plant material. A closer distance to transportation routes and heavier traffic had a significant impact on the chemical composition of raw elderberry, which had a lower total content of flavonoids than the material collected from sites further away from roads. Significant correlation was found between the content of Cr, Fe, Cd and Cu in elderberry fruit or the content of Fe, Zn, Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb and Mg in elderberry flowers and the influence of traffic, where closer proximity and heavier road traffic contributed significantly to an increase in the concentration of these elements in the analyzed raw material. The chemical composition of elderberry flowers and fruits was significantly affected by the traffic and depended on a harvest site.

   17.1.2012