ABSTRACT
The biologically active compounds protodioscin, prototribescin, dioscin and rutin were investigated in the samples originating from 25 natural populations distributed in South Bulgaria, including four floristic regions. The samples were collected along the ecological cline - “type of soil—degree of humidity” and analyzed by an HPLC method. The variability of the investigated compounds was evaluated and cluster analysis results were interpreted in order to discover intraspecific variability and eventual correlation with some ecological conditions.