Alkaloid profiling of Galanthus woronowii Losinsk. by GC-MS and evaluation of its biological activity

The alkaloid profiles of the aerial parts and the bulbs of Galanthus woronowii Losinsk. were analyzed by means of Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Totally, twentyeight compounds were detected. Galanthamine and galanthine were found to be the main alkaloids both in the extracts of the aerial parts and the bulbs. Most of the identified compounds were lycorine and galanthamine-type Amaryllidaceae alkaloids. In addition, the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor potentials of the extracts prepared from the aerial parts and bulbs were determined by in vitro Ellman’s method and both of the extracts were found to exhibit significant activity (aerial parts: IC50= 0.027 μg/mL and bulbs: IC50= 0.084 μg/mL).