When humans are sick or injured, several medications can be prescribed by doctors to help treat and restore health. However, if it is a chimpanzee who is sick, what should they do?
According to a story I read about wild animals, it was stated that if chimpanzees are sick, they will treat themselves with plants or leaves available in the forest and even then they must be leaves that can specifically treat wounds or other illnesses. Interestingly, chimpanzees choose certain plants that can actually have medicinal benefits. Chimpanzee Behavior When Sick For several years, experts have actually suggested that when chimpanzees are sick, they will treat themselves.
This is revealed when they eat plants that clearly have no obvious nutritional content or contain toxins, such as plants that have an unpleasant taste. To this end, researchers in this study observed 51 chimpanzees from two populations in the Budongo Central Nature Reserve, Uganda, by correlating their eating behavior with their medical processes.
The research revealed that there are 13 plants that chimpanzees look for when they feel something is wrong with their health. Laboratory tests were then carried out on the plants and it was revealed that 88% of the extracts studied were capable of inhibiting bad bacteria, including being effective in fighting dangerous microbes in the ESKAPE group which are known as microbes with the ability to be very resistant to current antibiotics.
"After spending months in the field collecting behavioral clues that led us to specific plant species, it was exciting to analyze the pharmacological results and find that many of these plants showed high levels of bioactivity," explained the named researcher. Research on the behavior of these primates towards plants that are found to contain effective medicinal properties has implications for the development of new drugs for humans to fight pathogens that are resistant to current drugs.
"Our research highlights the medicinal knowledge that can be gained from observing other species in the wild and underscores the urgent need to preserve these forest apothecaries for future generations," he said. Plants Used by Chimpanzees Have Many Benefits
Based on this research, there are several plants used by chimpanzees that have healing benefits, these are the plants:
Alstonia Boonei Tree Species
This plant contains the strongest antimicrobial properties in wood. Research shows that chimpanzees swallow dead wood from these trees to treat parasitic infections such as tapeworms.
According to researchers, the alstonia boonei plant is used for healing properties in Africa.
"Commonly used for a variety of reproductive, bacterial, and digestive problems, as well as snakebites, asthma, and dizziness."
East African Mahogany Tree
The researchers observed three chimpanzees consuming parts of this tree when they were injured. Researchers suspect that it might be used to prevent infection. While other chimpanzees swallow bark when they cough continuously.
So from laboratory tests, what are the benefits of this plant? The bark and resin of this tree were found to have the ability to inhibit pathogens such as E coli and E faecium.
These pathogens are the causes of diseases that humans often experience and now these pathogens are increasingly resistant to available drugs.
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