Bioactive isoquinoline alkaloids from Mahonia aquifolium (pursh.) Nutt acclimatized to natural conditions in Georgia

Species of the genus Mahonia have long been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of different types of diseases. In the present study, the alkaloid composition and biological activity of Mahonia aquifolium acclimatised to the natural conditions of Georgia were investigated. Total alkaloids were extracted from the aerial parts of the plant and fractionated using Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ columns with C₆H₆-MeOH and CHCl₃-MeOH solvent systems. Compound identification was carried out using TLC, LC-MS/MS, GC/MS, and NMR techniques. The alkaloids norisocorydine, liriodenine, liriodendrine, sinomenine, and glaucine were described for this species for the first time. A pronounced seasonal dynamic in their accumulation was observed. The alkaloid-enriched fractions exhibited cytotoxic and antiproliferative activity (against HaCaT, A-549, and DLD-1 cell lines), as well as antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus. The obtained results highlight the pharmacological potential of M. aquifolium and the need for further phytochemical and pharmacological investigations.