Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Activities of the Essential Oil of Mentha pulegium L, South East of Algeria

Abstract

Aerial parts of Mentha pulegium L. collected from south east of Algeria (Reguiba, El-Oued) possessed an essential oil in 2.34% (v/w) yield. GC and GC-MS analysis of the oil revealed recognition of Thirty-seven compounds, representing 95.02% (area percent) of the total oil composition. Oil was rich in Oxygenated hydrocarbons, exhibited higher percentage of Pulegone (46.31%) followed by Piperitenone (23.3%), Menthone (6.2%) and Limonene (4.7%). The antioxidant activity by DPPH free radical scavenging bioassay (IC 50 = 157 µl/ml).