Primate's use of Medicine in Nature

MEDICINAL PLANT USE:PAN TROGLODYTE

Luke Buchanan4/10/11

Introduction:

Zoopharmacognosy Chimpanzee=best studied

1. Bitter Pith Chewing2. Swallowing Leaves Whole

Swallowing Leaves Whole

Research

Michael Huffman 1997 2 anti-parasitic bx

1. Bitter pith chewing2. Whole leaf swallowing

3 study sites: Mahale, Gombe, Kibale Severe climatic variation

among sites

Kibale

Bitter Pith Chewing, Results:

Vernonia amygdalina Chimpanzees must search for this plant Does not have nutritional benefit & does not taste

good Observed in adults experiencing diarrhea, depression, &

sickness Musa

Seasonal Use Grows year round 67% of cases occurred in Rainy Season

November to February Higher incidence of parasite infection

MUSA!!

Pith Chewing, Conclusion:

Anti-parasitic properties of Veronia pith Vernonioside B1 (left) Vernodaline (right)

inhibits movement in adult worms inhibits females capacity to lay eggs

Especially effective against Nematodes

Leaf Swallowing, Results: Aspilia mossambicensis

“Wild Sunflower” Best data—63% of LF cases

Process: Slowly selected in morning Rainy Season “Capsulated Leaf Pill” Leaves found in tact in feces

Leaf Swallowing, continued

The Aspilia “Leaf Pill” Rough surface

Trichomes Folded accordion style

Easier to Swallow Harder to digest

Protect secondary compound thiarubrine-A Newton and Nishida (1990)

Rubbing leaf against gums Trichomes:Aspilia as Plexiglass:Dip

Leaf Swallowing, conclusion:

Anti-Parasitic Mechanisms:1. Physical Mechanism:

Nematodes become trapped within the folds of the leaf

Nematode's attach to the trichomes like velcro Most effective mechanism

Anti-Parasitic Mechanism, cntnd

2. Phytochemical Mechanism: Thiarubrine-A

Potent antifungal and worming agent Evidence against Phytochemical Activity:

Worms are alive in dung Presence of chemical in African aspilia

speciesrare NO studies have confirmed that the chemical is

active during ingestion or digestion. Very poorly supported.

Concluding Remarks:

The process of “capsulating” demonstrates social learning (Huffman, 2004)

Zoopharmacognosy can open up pharmaceutical possibilities for humans Developing countries Agriculture

Medicinal Plant Use in Primates Bibliography

Huffman, Michael. Current Evidence for Self-Medication in Primates (1997). Yearbook of Physical Anthropolology

Huffman, etal. Leaf-Swallowing by Chimpanzee: A Behavioral Adaptation for the Control of Strongyle Nematode Infection (1996). International Journal of Primatology. Vol 17m No. 4

Huffman, Michael. The Medicinal Use of Plants by Chimpanzees in the Wild (1996). www.CHIMPP.com. 4-8-11

Huffman; Hirata. An experimental study of leaf swallowing in captive chimpanzees: insights into the origin of self-medicative behavior and the role of social learning (2004)