In the present study, we have tested the butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activity of the petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanol aerial extracts of Marrubium alysson , Peganum harmala and Retama raetam at 10 and 1000 μg/mL. The anti-inflammatory activity was determined by the carrageenan-induced paw edema assay in rats. Total flavonoids and phenols and total pigment contents were also investigated. 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]