LAUSR

Abstract The aim of this work is to evaluate the chemical composition and biological activities of essential oils obtained from aerial parts of six wild Algerian Mentha species (M. aquatica, M. arvensis, M. x piperita, M. pulegium, M. rotundifolia and M. x villosa), collected from the National Park of El-Kala. Chemical composition was analyzed by GC‐MS, the DPPH, β-carotene bleaching and ion chelating assays were carried to assess the antioxidant activity, the Ellman method were used to determine the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. Essential oil yields and compositions varied among species. The highest yield of oils (1.8%) recorded for M. pulegium. 27 compounds were identified with the predominance of oxygenated monoterpenes such as menthofurane (73.38%), rotundifolone (65.99%), pulegone (59.12%), α menthol (49.89%), menthone (20.84%), neomenthol (20.76%), 1.8-cineole (18.16%). M. aquatica and M. arvensis exhibited the strongest DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 0.69 ± 0.06 mg/ml and 0.76 ± 0.20 mg/ml, respectively) and the highest capacity to prevent β-carotene bleaching (IC50 = 0.16 ± 0.02 mg/ml and 0.22 ± 0.01 mg/ml, respectively). The uppermost ferrous ion chelating activity was observed for M. aquatica, M. arvensis and M. villosa (1.72