Objectives: Amaryllidaceae alkaloids are well known for their wide range of pharmacological activities. Galanthamine, an Amaryllidaceae alkaloid, is an effective, selective, reversible, and competitive cholinesterase inhibitor marketed under different commercial names in several countries for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The aim of this work was to study the alkaloid profiles of the aerial parts and bulbs of both flowering and fruiting periods of Galanthus fosteri Baker (Amaryllidaceae), as well as analyzing their inhibitory activities on both acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) for the first time. Materials and Methods: The alkaloid profiles of the four samples were determined by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and AChE and BuChE inhibition assays were performed by the modified Ellman method. Results: Totally, 22 compounds with mass spectral characteristics of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids were detected in the extracts. Significant AChE and BuChE inhibitory activities were observed in the tested samples (IC50 between 0.189 and 91.23 mu g/mL). Conclusion: This study shows that G. fosteri, collected from Akdag, Amasya (Turkey). is a potential source of diverse chemical structures of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids with cholinesterase inhibitory properties.

In the present study, a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been used for the quantitative determination of lycorine in the aerial parts and bulbs of G. elwesii Hook. A simple method for the extraction of lycorine in low mass plant samples was employed utilizing pre-packed columns with diatomaceous earth (Extrelut(r)). The chromatographic separation was performed using an isocratic system with a mobile phase of trifluoroacetic acid-water-acetonitrile (0.01:92.5:7.5, v/v/v) applied at a flow rate 1 mL min^-1 using diode array detector. The content of lycorine in the bulbs and aerial parts of G. elwesii collected from Demirci (Manisa) was found as 0.130 and 0.162 %, respectively. Additionally, in the bulbs of the specimens collected from Sogucak (Balikesir), lycorine was quantified as 0.055 %, whereas in the aerial parts, it was determined as 0.006 %. The method was validated partially with respect to system specificity, linearity, accuracy, precision, limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ). Validation procedures displayed that the method was specific, accurate and precise.