The research of organic acids in black alder (alnus glutinosa (l.) Gaertn.) Buds and leaves

By the means of the chromatography-mass-spectrometry method the comparative analysis of the qualitative composition and the quantitative content of organic acids in black alder buds and leaves have been carried out. Twelve organic acids have been identified in black alder buds, their total content is 1353.7 mg/kg, and there are 11 organic acids in black alder leaves with the content twice as high as in buds – 3007.9 mg/kg. One monocarboxylic, 6 dicarboxylic and 1 tricarboxylic, 4 aliphatic and aromatic organic acids have been found in buds. Two monocarboxylic, 5 dicarboxylic and 1 tricarboxylic, 5 aromatic organic acids have been found in leaves. The qualitative composition of organic acids is different in leaves and buds of black elder: 9 compounds have been found in both types of the plant material, namely capronic, oxalic, malonic, fumaric, succinic, malic, citric, vanillic and ferulic acids. Azelaic, benzoic and cinnamic acids have been found only in black alder buds, and black alder leaves contain only 2-hexenic and α-hydroxyphenylpropionic acids. The dominating component in buds is citric acid (625.8 mg/kg), the lowest content has been detected for capronic (10.3 mg/kg) and fumaric (4.5 mg/kg) acids. The highest content in leaves has been detected for oxalic acid (1403.9 mg/kg), in small amounts fumaric and succinic (8.3 mg/kg and 13.8 mg/kg, respectively) acids are present in this plant material. The results obtained will be used in the further study of the black alder plant material.