Stem bark of the two species Stryphnodendron polyphyllum Mart. and Stryphnodendron obovatum Benth., Leguminosae, was investigated for wound healing, antibacterial and antioxidant activity. These plants contain 12 and 19% tannins in their stem bark, respectively, and are widely used in traditional medicine in Brazil. The total content of phenolics of the crude extract (CE) of Stryphnodendron obovatum was 76.95 +/- 2.98% (CV = 3.87%) and of the ethyl-acetate fraction (EAF) was 89.13 +/- 0.34% (CV = 0.38%); whereas in Stryphnodendron polyphyllum the CE phenolics content was 51.62+/-1.53% (CV = 2.96%) and the EAF phenolics content was 59.00 +/- 1.91% (CV = 3.24%). The tannin content of CE from Stryphnodendron obovatum [36.58 +/- 0.35% (CV = 0.98%)] was about 11% higher than in CE from Stryphnodendron polyphyllum [25.43 +/- 0.96% (CV = 3.77%)]. The difference between the species was even greater in the EAF: in Stryphnodendron obovatum the EAF phenolics content was 55.01 +/- 0.36% (CV = 0.65%), whereas in Stryphnodendron polyphyllum the content was 36.16 +/- 0.42% (CV = 1.16%). The healing effect of ointments containing 2.5% crude lyophilised extract (PCE) and 2.5% ethyl-acetate lyophilised fraction (PEA) of the stem bark of Stryphnodendron polyphyllum and Stryphnodendron obovatum was studied in cutaneous wounds of Wistar rats after 4, 7 and 10 days of treatment. Epithelial cell proliferation in the area of re-epithelialisation of the wounds was evaluated by counting the metaphases blocked by vincristine sulfate. With PCE an increase in epidermal growth was observed after 4 and 7 days of treatment with Stryphnodendron polyphyllum, and after 7 and 10 days of treatment with Stryphnodendron obovatum. Wounds treated with PEA of Stryphnodendron obovatum showed increased epidermal growth only 4 days after the treatment; for Stryphnodendron polyphyllum, epidermal growth was observed after 4 and 7 days of treatment. Both the CE and the EAF fractions of Stryphnodendron polyphyllum and Stryphnodendron obovatum showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with MIC values of 125 and 250 microg/ml, respectively. Gram-negative bacteria tested were not inhibited by extracts and fractions at concentrations > 1000 microg/ml. The antioxidant activity through reduction of the DPPH radical in TLC, confirmed the anti-radical properties of these extracts in both species. CE and EAF of both species showed a radical scavenging activity (RSA) and protected DPPH from discolouration, already at 0.032 microg/ml. The extract from Stryphnodendron polyphyllum were more effective than those Stryphnodendron obovatum, although the former had a lower tannin content.