The leaves of three Mentha species harvested in Algeria, Mentha spicata L.(MS), Mentha pulegium L.(MP) and Mentha rotundifolia (L.) Huds (MR) were examined for their content in polyphenols and for some activities-linked biological properties these could impart. The contents in total phenolics (TPC) and flavonoids (TFC) were evaluated by the Folin–Ciocalteu and the aluminum chloride methods, respectively. Whereas MS showed the highest TPC (12.0±0.3 mg gallic acid equivalents/g of dry weight), MR had the highest content in TFC (3.3±0.1 mg quercetin equivalents of dry weight). The pharmacological properties of these extracts were evaluated by assessing in vitro their antioxidant and antityrosinase activities. The modulation of mushroom tyrosinase activity was measured by colorimetry of the melanins formed in the presence of tyrosine. MS exhibited the strongest …