Phytochemical screening, butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activity and anti-inflammatory effect of some Tunisian medicinal plants

The highest flavonoid contents were found in the methanolic extracts of P. harmala and the highest phenol content in the methanolic extract of R. raetama. The highest concentration of chlorophyll a and b and carotenoids were found in the leaves of P. harmala. The methanol extract of Marrubium alysson showed the best inhibitory activity against BChE (72.5 ± 2.07%) whereas the methanol extract of Peganum harmala had a moderate inhibitory effect (50.53 ± 1.98%) at the same concentration of 1 mg/ml. Methanol extracts of M. alysson and P. harmala had the highest anti-inflammatory activity.