Pharmacological and behavioral investigation of putative self-medicative plants in Budongo chimpanzee diets

PLoS ONE, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 19(6), С. e0305219 - e0305219

Опубликована: Июнь 20, 2024

Wild chimpanzees consume a variety of plants to meet their dietary needs and maintain wellbeing. While some have obvious value, others are nutritionally poor and/or contain bioactive toxins which make ingestion costly. In cases, these nutrient-poor resources speculated be medicinal, thought help individuals combat illness. this study, we observed two habituated chimpanzee communities living in the Budongo Forest, Uganda, collected 17 botanical samples associated with putative self-medication behaviors (e.g., bark feeding, dead wood eating, pith-stripping) or events when consumer had elevated parasite load, abnormal urinalysis, injury). total, selected plant parts from 13 species (nine trees four herbaceous plants). Three extracts different polarities were produced each sample using n -hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol/water (9/1, v/v ) introduced antibacterial anti-inflammatory vitro models. Extracts evaluated for growth inhibition against panel multidrug-resistant clinical isolates bacteria, including ESKAPE strains cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity. Pharmacological results suggest that several potent medicinal properties. library screen, 45 out 53 (88%) exhibited ≥40% at concentration 256 μg/mL. Of active extracts, 41 (91%) showed activity ≤256μg/mL subsequent dose-response experiments. The strongest was achieved by n- hexane extract Alstonia boonei Staphylococcus aureus (IC50: 16 μg/mL; MIC: 32 μg/mL) Enterococcus faecium >256 methanol-water Khaya anthotheca resin E . pathogenic Escherichia coli μg/mL). We both highly parasitized individuals. K also targeted indicators infection injuries. All negatively affected COX-2 51 tested (33%) ≥50% 5 Several effects most 0.55 μg/mL), followed fern Christella parasitica 0.81 This consumed an injured individual, feeding behavior documented only once before population. These results, integrated observations eight months behavioral data, provide further evidence presence self-medicative wild diets. study addresses challenge distinguishing preventative food consumption therapeutic integrating pharmacological, observational, health monitoring data—an essential interdisciplinary approach advancing field zoopharmacognosy.

Язык: Английский

Animal medication: The passive prevention and active treatment of self and others

Elsevier eBooks, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

Язык: Английский

Self-directed and prosocial wound care, snare removal, and hygiene behaviors amongst the Budongo chimpanzees

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 13

Опубликована: Май 14, 2025

Understanding the cognitive and social foundations of healthcare behaviors in humans requires examining their evolutionary precursors our closest living relatives. Investigating self-directed other-directed chimpanzees provides crucial insights into origins medicinal knowledge, identification specific resources used for health maintenance, emergence prosocial capacities. Here we document analyze both previously reported newly observed instances wound care, snare removal, putatively hygiene Sonso Waibira chimpanzee communities Budongo Forest Uganda. Reports these come from archival records collected over thirty years observation at Conservation Field Station (BCFS), videos recorded by researchers site, all-occurrence behavioral data two 4-month periods direct observation. We describe care such as licking, leaf-dabbing, pressing fingers to wounds, application chewed plant material well a successful removal. also including postcoital genital leaf wiping post-defecation wiping. For first time Budongo, report presence adding similar observations documented other field sites. present cases individuals finger pressing, applying wounds others. establish behaviors, specifically Lastly, an additional unpublished case The prosocial-care between kin non-kin adds another site growing list locations where have been documented, suggesting is more widespread across populations than recognized.

Язык: Английский