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

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 (IC50 = 157 µl/ml).