About 80% of people in the developing world, particularly those from rural communities where modern drugs are unaffordable, inaccessible or, unavailable, depend on phytomedicine for primary healthcare. However, most medical and veterinary professionals distrust herbal medicines due to lack of scientific evidence of efficacy and safety. Hence, there is need for their validation, before herbal medicines gain wider acceptance and use. Traditional healers, pastoralists and rural farmers use extracts of Peltophorum africanum (a medicinal plant widely spread in southern Africa and other tropical regions), to treat diarrhea, dysentery, pain, infertility, HIV-AIDS and to promote well-being and resistance to disease. The extracts of the plant inhibit HIV-type 1 reverse transcriptase and protease. Methodology. Dried leaves bark and root from mature P. africanum trees were extracted with acetone. Chromatograms were made on silica gel plates. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined for five bacteria (Gram positive and Gram negative), and five fungal pathogens. Qualitative screening for antioxidants was done by spraying chromatograms with 0.2% 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) , and quantification done in comparison with L-ascorbic acid and Trolox (6-hydroxy-2, 5, 7, 8-tetranethylchromane-2-carboxylic acid). Anthelmintic activity was evaluated by effects of extracts on the egg hatching and larval development of parasitic nematodes Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis. Results. The extracts showed substantial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, with Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values of 0.08 mg ml-1 for Staphylococcus aureus and 0.16 mg ml-1 for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The extracts showed higher antifungal activity than amphoterin B. The acetone extracts of the bark, and root of P. africanum showed higher antioxidant activity than L-ascorbic acid (Vitamin-C) and Trolox (6-hydroxy-2, 5, 7, 8-tetramethylchromane-2-carboxylic acid), a synthetic vitamin-E analogue, and much higher than Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761). The respective EC50 for the P. africanum root and bark extracts, L-ascorbic acid, and EGb761 were 3.82?g/ml, 4.37?g/ml, 5.04?g/ml, and 40.72 ?g/mL. The standardised extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) is widely employed for its significant benefit in neurological disorders. The extracts inhibited egg hatchability and larval development (from L1 to infective stage L3) of both Haemoncus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis (both parasitic nematodes of ruminants) at concentrations of 0.1-1.0 mg ml-1. The plant extracts, at the concentration of 5-25 mg ml-1 completely lysed larval forms (L1) and eggs of the nematodes. Conclusion. P. africanum extracts have therefore, potential for treatment of inf7ction-related diseases by either directly inhibiting bacterial growth or by stimulating the immune system of the host. The traditional use of P. africanum concoctions against diarrhea, dysentery and unthriftness, may be also due to anthelmintic activity as these signs are consistent with parasitic gastroenteritis. Gastrointestinal nematodes exasperate diarrhea in HIV-AIDS patients, as well as disease-related production losses arising from stock mortality, severe weight loss and poor production in ruminants. Antioxidants are also important in boosting the immunity, critical in the management of helminthosis. There is ample scientific and empirical evidence supporting the use of plant-derived antioxidants in the control of neurological diseases, as antioxidants have neuro-protective (preventing apoptosis), as well as neuro-regenerative roles. Due to the high antioxidant activity of its extracts, P. africanum has prospects in the management or control of neurodegenerative diseases. Thus there is great potential of P. africanum extracts in disease control.

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