ABSTRACT
Determination of the mineral composition is important for further study and standardization of the dried branchesof the species from the Salix (willow) family genus and extracts from the plant material. The study aimed todetermine the qualitative and quantitative content of macro- and microelements in some representatives of theSalix spp. growing in Ukraine in comparison with soils and extracts of plant material. The elemental compositionof the branches of Salix cinerea L., S. incana Schrank, S. cаprea L., S. sachalinensis F. Schmidt, S. acutifolia L.,S. fragilis L., S. caspica Pall., S. rosmarinifolia L., and S. myrsinifolia Salisb was determined using atomicemission spectrometry with photographic registration for the first time. The method used allowed us to determinethe presence of 5 macro- (К, Na, Ca, Р, Mg) and 14 microelements (Fe, Si, Мn, Al, Sr, Zn, Ni, Mo, Cu, Co, Pb,Cd, As, Hg), and the content of 14 elements were quantified in the dried branches of the Salix spp. plants. Theability to accumulate and a relatively high content of micro- and macroelements, as well as low content of toxicmicroelements (Co, Pb, Cd, As, Hg) in willow branches, allow considering them as a promising but safe sourceof biologically available microelements. There were typically not correlations between concentrations of microand macroelements in plant material and soils. The maximum levels of macroelements and microelements werefound in Salix species collected in the Kharkiv region, and in the Zakarpatye region, respectively. The elementalcomposition in the Salix sachalinensis F. Schmidt was quite different if compared with all others.