Abstract: The effect of NaCl stress on the growth, nutriments contents and antioxidative activities were investigated in two xero-halophytes Nitraria retusa and Atriplex halimus. Plants were grown in 0-800 mM NaCl for 120 days under glasshouse conditions. Both xero-halophytic species showed positive plant growth for low levels of salinity. Increasing concentrations of salinity from 400-800 mM NaCl induced decrease in plant growth and chlorophyll content in the two species, especially in A. halimus. In addition both species were able to accumulate a large quantity of Na⁺ and to maintain a higher leaf water content which was probably associated with a greater capacity for osmotic adjustment whereas the contents of K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ decreased significantly at diverse degree, resulting in an increase in the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio when NaCl concentrations increased. At higher salinity, it appears that salt excretion was involved in the strategies for salt tolerance in both xero-halophytic species, especially in N. retusa. A significant variability to the response to oxidative stress induced by salinity was found between both species. The relative better salt tolerance of N. retusa compared to A. halimus plants may be related to their higher polyphenols and carotenoids accumulation and antioxidant activity, associated with lower Malondialdehyde (MDA) content and Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) concentration. In A. halimus, the secondary metabolites contribution in the restriction of oxidative damages caused by salt stress was disputed. As a whole, the data suggest that both N. retusa and A. halimus salt stressed plants might represent potential sources of polyphenols for economical use. But there is distinction in the implication of non-enzymatic antioxidants to limit oxidative damage.