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Abstract

Among all naturally derived drugs, higher plants have retained a historical significance as the most important sources of novel compounds useful directly as medicinal agents or as lead compounds for drug discovery. Ethno-botanical surveys report the folkloric uses of three Ghanaian medicinal plants namely, Anopyxis klaineana (Pierre) Engl. (Rhizophoraceae), Hexalobus monopetalus (A. Rich.) Engl. &Diels (Annonaceae) and Landolphia heudelotti A. DC. (Apocynaceae) in the treatment of a variety of ailments including skin, respiratory and sexually transmitted infections, pain, arthritis and as wound healing agents. In this study, these plants were investigated for some of their biological activities and phytochemical constituents.

The methanol and ethyl acetate fractions of A. klaineana stem bark at 300 mg/kg inhibited peak inflammatory responses and total paw oedema by 62.40 ± 6.32 % and 49.10 ± 10.31 % respectively in the carrageenan induced paw oedema assay. The total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of the crude methanol extract were determined to be 110.21 ± 10.15 mg/g (tannic acid equivalent) and 110.6 ± 11.15 mg/g (ascorbic acid equivalent) respectively. The extract also scavenged DPPH free radicals with IC₅₀ of 2.71 ± 0.21 µg/mL. The ethyl acetate fraction showed antimicrobial activity