Study of the cytotoxic activity of alkaloid- containing fractions isolated from certain plant species growing and introduced in georgia

The objects of the study were Ephedra procera Fisch (Fam. Ephedraceae), Taxus baccata L. (Fam. Taxaceae) and Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh) Nutt (Fam. Berberidaceae) growing or introduced in Georgia. Biologically active alkaloid-containing substances were obtained by liquid-liquid extraction. In all studied species, the dominant alkaloids belong to the acyclic, diterpene and isoquinoline groups of alkaloids, respectively. In vitro cytotoxic activity was evaluated on A-549 (lung carcinoma cell lines), DLD-1 (colon adenocarcinoma cells) and WS-1 (human fibroblast normal cell lines). The sums of alkaloids obtained from Ephedra Procera showed selective cytotoxic activity against A-549 and DLD-1. An alkaloid enriched fraction isolated from Taxus baccata L. demonstrated significant specific cytotoxic activity against A-549 and DLD-1 cell lines. The sums obtained from Mahonia aquifolium exhibited pronounced activity against all cell lines - A-549, DLD-1 and WS-1 according to the Resazurine and Hoechst models.