Antioxidants are the chemical substances which prevent the free radicals damage in the body. Numerous researches are going globally focussed on investigating natural antioxidants of plants origins. The aims of the present study were to evaluate preliminary phytochemical investigation and in vitro antioxidant activities of Ethiopian indigenous medicinal plants, Ocimum lamiifolium Hochst. ex Benth and Ocimum basilicum L. Aqueous, benzene and hexane crude leaves extracts of O. lamiifolium and O. basilicum were subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening using standard procedures. In addition, we investigated the antioxidant potential of crude aqueous leaves extract of O. lamiifolium and O. basilicum using tests involving inhibition of superoxide anions, DPPH, H2O2, NO and ABTS. Preliminary phytochemical investigation for benzene, hexane and aqueous extracts found alkaloids, sterols, carbohydrate and glycosides, tannins and flavonoids. The fraction inhibition of lipid peroxide at the first stage of oxidation illustrated antioxidant activity of O. lamiifolium and O. basilicum as 90% and 88% compared to those of gallic acid (97%) and BHT (84%) respectively. Also, the aqueous leaves extract of O. lamiifolium and O. basilicum exhibited significant DPPH free radical scavenging activity, nitric acid free radical scavenging activity assay, superoxide anion scavenging activity, ABTS scavenging activity and hydrogen peroxide free radical scavenging assay. Our findings provide confirmation that the aqueous leaves extract of O. lamiifolium and O. basilicum are potential source of natural antioxidants, and this warranted its uses in traditional medicine systems.

Despite advances in wound treatment, wound-associated infections and delayed healing still remains an ‘unmet clinical need’. The present treatment modalities include topical application of ointments and perhaps it may better be substituted by phytochemical incorporated nanofibers which increases wound-healing efficiency and reduce risk of infections. Hence, the aim of this study was to synthesise Areca catechu–incorporated polycaprolactone scaffolds for wound-healing applications. In this study, the tender nut of Areca catechu plant was collected and extracted with ethanol using the maceration technique. The presence of various active phytochemical constituents of ethanolic fraction of Areca catechu like phenol, flavonoid, tannin and alkaloid were identified qualitatively and estimated quantitatively. Areca catechu incorporated 10%w/w polycaprolactone scaffolds were fabricated by electrospinning technique and characterised physico-chemically by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope analysis. In vitro cytotoxicity analysis was evaluated with L929 fibroblasts and in vivo wound-healing studies using rat models for both polycaprolactone and Areca catechu–incorporated polycaprolactone scaffolds. Extract of Areca catechu exhibited antioxidant properties and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Psuedomonus aeru ginosa. Scanning electron microscope image revealed the nanofibrous structural morphology of Areca catechu–incorporated polycaprolactone and polycaprolactone with average diameter of 350 and 399 nm, respectively. The characteristic peak of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy depicted the presence of biomolecules and detection of functional groups confirming the incorporation of Areca catechu into the polycaprolactone scaffold. Furthermore, cells were cytocompatible with 85% viability over Areca catechu–incorporated polycaprolactone scaffolds, and wounds treated with Areca catechu–incorporated polycaprolactone healed faster with a significant difference in the wound area than polycaprolactone controls. The phytochemical-incorporated polycaprolactone scaffolds with antioxidant, antimicrobial, biocompatible and wound-healing properties is proposed to be an indigenous approach towards wound care management globally and seems to be better and cost-effective wound dressings.