Abstract:
Combretum dolichopetalum Engl. & Diels (Combretaceae) is a medicinal plant used in the Kpando Traditional
Area for treating wounds. However, it has received little attention by the scientific world. The study was
designed to evaluate the wound healing potential and antioxidant activities of the plant to confirm its folkloric
use. Excision wound model was used with Penicillin as the standard reference drug. Sensitivity test was carried
out on the extract against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia using disc
diffusion method. The antioxidant activity was measured by three different spectrophotometric assays. The
content of total phenolics and total flavonoids were also determined. The extract significantly caused wound
healing and reduced microbial load. Similarly, the methanol extract significantly inhibited the growth of S.
aureus and K. pneumonia at higher doses. Almost all results from the antioxidant activity models were
concentration dependent with no significant difference from the standard Ascorbic acid except at very low
concentrations. Tannins and flavonoids were present whose synergistic effects may be responsible for the high
antioxidant activity. Correlation analysis between the values of DPPH and TAC (r 2=0.7790) indicates the
viability of the two models for evaluating antioxidants from medicinal plants.
