Anacyclus pyrethrum (L.) (Asteraceae) is an important annual medicinal herb and is widespread in Morocco and Algeria. Most of its parts are used in traditional medicine and the roots are the most important parts used. The present review gives an account of the updated information on its phytochemical and pharmacological properties. We have collected the essential characteristics and the different scientific data of the A. pyrethrum species, and reviewed its potential. It is seen from the literature that A. pyrethrum is a rich source of the phytochemical constituents such as alkaloids (pellitorin) and n-alkylamides. This species also contains pyrethrins, sesamin, traces of essential oils and a wide range of other chemical compounds. These active substances possess antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. The plant has an antidiabetic, insecticidal and immunostimulatory effect, as well as an aphrodisiac and antioxidant potentials, and various other important medicinal properties. Many traditional uses are also reported in previous research such as for rheumatism, sciatica, colds, neuralgia and paralysis. This species is considered to be a sialagogue, and used in the treatment of stomach ailments, diseases of inflammation of the mouth, against cysts in the genital tract and to relieve toothaches. Thus, further research must be carried out in order to establish any relationship between the traditional uses, phytochemistry and toxicity. Moreover, A. pyrethrum is quite promising as a medicinal agent, so further clinical trials should be performed to prove its efficacy.

The cosmetics and food fields are based on the use of synthetic substances to protect their products against oxidation. However, synthetic antioxidants were reported to have negative effects on human health. The interest to develop natural antioxidants from plants has been growing in recent decades. The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant properties of three essential oils (EOs) of M. pulegium (L.), M. suaveolens (Ehrh.) and M. spicata (L.) from the Azrou and Ifrane regions. The organoleptic characteristics, yields and physical properties were determined for the selected EOs. Their chemical compositions were identified using GC-MS; then, their antioxidant activities were evaluated using the DPPH^• free radical scavenging activity and were compared with the ascorbic acid standard. The determined physicochemical parameters of dry matter and EOs demonstrated their good quality. The analysis of the EOs showed the dominance of pulegone (68.86–70.92%) and piperitenone (24.81%), piperitenone oxide (74.69–60.3%), and carvone (71.56–54.79%) and limonene (10.5–9.69%) for M. pulegium, M. suaveolens and M. spicata, respectively, from Azrou and Ifrane. Additionally, the antiradical tests demonstrated the remarkable power of these EOs, especially M. pulegium EO (IC₅₀ = 15.93 mg/mL), which recorded the best activity compared with ascorbic acid (IC₅₀ = 8.849 mg/mL). The obtained results indicated that these EOs could be applied as natural antioxidants in the food industry.

Spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) is one of the most used species in Morocco. The whole herb and essential oil are used in flavoring tea and also have medicinal, cosmetic and industrial importance. In this study, the influence of drying on essential oil (EO) yields and chemical composition of spearmint was assessed. The spearmint aerial parts were harvested at flowering stage from two regions of Middle-Atlas: Meknes (Latitude: 33°53’42; Longitude: 5°33’17"; Altitude: 522 m) and Azrou (Latitude: 33°25’59"; Longitude: 5°13’01"; Altitude: 1278 m) and subjected to shadow drying method. The oils were extracted by hydrodistillation from dry leaves and flowers of the herb then analyzed using GC/MS. The obtained essential oil yield increased from 2.4 % to 4.48 % and 1.54 % to 3.8 %, respectively for M. spicata L. from Azrou and that from Meknes during six days of drying. The main compounds were carvone ranged from 47.30 % to 67.14 % and from 64.97 % to 69.19 %, limonene from 4.48 % to 9.03 % and 6.33 % to 15.43 %, then trans-4-caranone about 2.84 % to 4.63 % and 0.82 % to 2.08 % respectively for Azrou and Meknes spearmint. The high concentration of these compounds was observed on the fifth day for M. spicata from Azrou while for that from Meknes: the carvone rate reached its maximum on the 2^nd day and limonene on the 3^rd day. Moreover, some compounds appeared during of drying process as menthone and pulegone. So, the drying in shade process of spearmint can be suitable and recommended for high-oil yield and active components.

The essential oils of Artemisia ifranensis J. Didier (Asteraceae), collected from Timahdite (Moroccan Middle-Atlas) in April and June (2012) (vegetative and early bloom stages, respectively), were obtained by hydrodistillation and then analysed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC/FID) and GC-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Moreover, antibacterial activity essential oil was evaluated against pathogen germs isolated from hospital. Disc-diffusion method in solid medium and macrodilution method in liquid medium were, respectively, used to determine inhibition diameters and the antibacterial parameters to knowing, minimal inhibitory and bactericide concentrations (MIC and MBC). Essential oil yields were 0.58 ± 0.1% and 1.11 ± 0.3% (ml/100 g), respectively, in vegetative and blooming stages. For these periods, essential oil analyses revealed that β-Thujone was the most abundant compound in the plant with 50.0 and 41.1%, respectively. Oxygenated monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes are the most important groups among identified compounds. For antibacterial activity, the results proved that essential oil was highly active against the Staphylococcus aureus.

Moroccan indigenous and spontaneous medicinal plants have been widely used to treatment of a number of diseases. Volatile compounds mixtures isolated from leaves and roots respectively of Artemisia ifranensis and Anacyclus pyrethrum species, by hydrodistillation, were analyzed by (GC/FID) and (GC/MS). Oils chemical profile of plant species showed the presence of major compounds among the identified constituents, this is respectively β-thujone (41.12 %) and spathulenol (16.9 %). Essential oils studied are screened also for their, in vitro, antioxidant activity by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. The noted results reported that Artemisia ifranensis essential oil exhibited promising antioxidant profile, and revealed an antioxidant property more important (IC50 = 5.9 mg/ml) than that of ascorbic acid used in food and pharmaceutical industries (IC50 = 8.09 mg/ml). This essence can be considered as a valuable source of natural antioxidants. Hence, oil of A. pyrethrum has a low efficient antioxidant potency (IC50 values 30.05 mg/ml), compared to the tested samples. The results supported the traditional usage and also possible use of plants volatile oils in combination with other preservatives to protect food materials against a variety of oxidative systems, in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.