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

Species of the genus <i>Mahonia</i> 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 <i>Mahonia aquifolium</i> 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 <i>E. coli</i> and <i>S. aureus</i>. The obtained results highlight the pharmacological potential of <i>M. aquifolium</i> and the need for further phytochemical and pharmacological investigations.