## 3 Results and Discussion
### Essential Oil and Hydrosol Extract Chemical Profile Implementing GS-MS Analysis
#### 3.1.3 M. pullegium  
Essential Oil and Hydrosol Extract Chemical Profile  
Five compounds were detected in EO of _M. pullegium_, accounting for 91.4% of the total oil. The most abundant compound was the monoterpene ketone, pulgeome (62.1%). Piperitone was found to be the second most abundant compound (11.3%). The two isomers, methone and isomethone, were present at a lower percentage (7.8%), while 3-octanol was found at the lowest percentage (2.5%). According to previous studies, the chemical composition of _M. pullegium_ EO, is qualitatively and quantitatively variable regarding the main compounds, depending on the region of cultivation. The GC-MS analysis of _M. pullegium_ EO, from Algeria, produced by steam distillation showed that pulgeome and neo-menthol were the major compounds, followed by mentone, _cis_-isopulegone and piperitone [21]. Another study of _M. pullegium_ EO, from Portugal, revealed that contained a complex mixture consisting mainly of mentone and pulgeone, and to less extend by neo-menthol and \(\delta\)-hydroxy-\(\delta\)-_4_(\(\delta\))-_p_-menthen-3-one [54]. In similar studies on the chemical composition of Morocan _M. pullegium_ EO, significant variability has been reported. One study reported that pulgeone was the most abundant compound, followed by _D_-limonene, _2-_(2,2,4_-trimethyl-3-cyclopent-_1_-yl) ethanol and verbenone [55], whereas in another study, pulgeone and menthone were the major constituents, and _1,8_-cineole, \(\alpha\)-terpineol, verbenone and humulene were minor [25]. [PERSON] et al. [56] studied EOs produced from twelve _M. pullegium_ populations from Iran, and they reported that the most abundant compounds were pulgeone, menthone, limonene, _1,8_-cineol, piperitone oxide and _trans_-piperitone epoxide. The variability of _M. pullegium_, chemotypes described in the literature, could be attributed to the growing conditions, drying process, harvest year, vegetation phase, and essential oil quality, as well as environmental conditions and plant parts that undergo distillation [48]. It is known that morphology, growth, yield, and secondary metabolite production in _Mentha_ species are affected by (micro)climate [61]. Furthermore, the diversity and concentration of secondary metabolites of _M. pullegium_ could be affected by plant growth factors such as salinity, irrigation, and genetic background [62].  
Four compounds were detected in _M. pullegium_ HS, accounting for 86.6% of the total extract. The major compounds were pulgeone (50.6%) and piperitone (32.4%), while the isomers menthone (2.6%) and isomenthone (1.0%) were found to be minor compounds.  
Comparison of the chemical composition of EOs and HSs of herbs showed that EOs contained more compounds, and several studies are in agreement with that [18; 47; 63]. The chemical profile of _M. pulgeium_ HS was the same with the respective EO, but in lower proportions, with the notable exception the absence of 3-octanol. Pulegone, piperitone, menthone and isomenthone are monoterpene ketones with high polarity, thus hydrophilic tendency [18].