Amphimas pterocarpoides harms.: An Evaluation of flavonoid and phenolic contents, wound healing, anthelmintic and antioxidant activities of the leaves and stem bark

The present study evaluated the wound healing, anthelmintic and antioxidant potentials of crude methanol extracts and fractions (petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanol) of the leaves and stem bark of Amphimas pterocarpoides. Wound healing activity was determined by the dermal excision model in rats; anthelmintic activity was evaluated by the adult worm motility test using the adult Indian worm, Pheretima postuma. Total flavonoid, phenolic content and antioxidant activity were assessed by the aluminum chloride colorimetric, Folin Ciocalteu, 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) assays respectively. HPLC/UV fingerprints were developed for quality control. The maximum amount of phenolics and flavonoids were detected in the methanol fractions of the stem bark (225.0 ± 20.0 mg/g gallic acid equivalent (GAE) and 201.0 ± 1.41 mg/g quercetin equivalent (QCE) respectively) and leaves (84.54 ± 1.36 mg/g GAE and 130.7 ± 1.71 mg/g QCE, respectively). Both leaf and bark displayed remarkable free radical scavenging and TAC with the highest effect given by the methanol fractions. Significant (p < 0.05) wound contraction was achieved by topical application of the leaf (APL) and stem bark (APS) ointments (5–15%) with >90 % wound surface closure for 1% silver sulphadiazine, APS 15% and APL 10% treated groups by day 15. APL and APS demonstrated a concentration- and time-dependent paralysis and mortality of the P. posthuma with APL (6.25 mg/mL) causing worm paralysis at 82.60 min and death at 93 min, better than 10 mg/mL albendazole (paralysis at 76.30 min; death at 117 min). Tannins, triterpenoids, phytosterols, flavonoids, saponins and coumarins were detected in the leaves and bark. The results have proven the potential of A. pterocarpoides as a wound healing and anthelmintic agent, giving scientific credence to its use in traditional medicine.