Ethnomedicinal and bioactive properties of plants ingested by wild chimpanzees in Uganda

Abstract

Wild chimpanzees eat several plant species claimed by traditional healers to cure diseases. However, the behaviour leading apes to ingest these peculiar species is not clearly understood. Some of the items consumed by chimpanzees have low nutritional value, and there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that health might be improved or regulated by such ingestion. Observations concerning the diet and the health condition of wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) in the Kibale National Park (Uganda) are discussed in relation to the ethnomedicinal utilization of plant species reviewed in literature. Among the 163 plant parts known to be eaten by these chimpanzees, at least 35 (21.4%) are used in traditional medicine as treatments for intestinal parasites, skin infections, reproduction and respiratory diseases. Relationships with pharmacological properties are presented, taking into account the difficulties of interpreting ethnomedicinal data. In conclusion, a greater knowledge of ape's behaviour and health may provide a new complementary method to select plants for biomedical research.

Sickness behaviour associated with non-lethal infections in wild primates

“…Dried and crushed or boiled preparations of bark from both of these species are used locally as anti-parasitics and analgesics [46,61,62]. In addition, both the leaves and bark of A. grandibracteata have documented in vitro anti-helminthic activity because of the presence of cytotoxic saponins [46]. However, we note that our study was strictly observational, and further work should determine the efficacy of A. grandibracteata in reducing parasite burden or lessening symptoms within primate hosts.…”

“…In particular, consumption of two abundant species, A. grandibracteata and Albizia gummifera, nearly doubled when animals were whipworm-positive. Dried and crushed or boiled preparations of bark from both of these species are used locally as anti-parasitics and analgesics [46,61,62]. In addition, both the leaves and bark of A. grandibracteata have documented in vitro anti-helminthic activity because of the presence of cytotoxic saponins [46].…”

“…'Chemical activity' indicates species with reported pharmacological activity; 'inconclusive' signifies species that have been reported as potentially medicinal, but whose properties have not been characterized. [46,50] rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org Proc. R. Soc.…”

Anthelmintic potential of three plants used in Nigerian ethnoveterinary medicine

“…I. gabonensis seeds have been found to reduce blood lipids and body weight in treated obese subjects (Ngondi et al, 2005). In a report by Krief et al (2005) the leaves of F. exasperata are used for the treatment of edema, healing abscess, and ulcer. The leaves of F. exasperata are also traditionally employed in the control of lice by placing them in the bird shed (Fajimi & Taiwo, 2004).…”

Protective effect of Asystasia gangetica reduced oxidative damage in the small intestine of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

“…Bronchospasmolytic activity of the extract and fractions of A. gangetica is also documented (Ezike et al, 2008). In African traditional human and veterinary medicine the leaves of A. gangetica is used in the treatment of snake bite, fever, epilepsy, stomach aches, heart disease, gonorrhoea, enlargement of spleen, help child birth and the decoction of leaves given orally to treat internal parasitism, anthelmintic and vermifuge (Krief et al, 2005). A 5,11-epoxymegastigmane glucoside (asysgangoside) was isolated from the aerial parts of A. gangetica along with the known compounds, salidroside, benzyl β-d-glucopyranoside, (6S,9R)-roseoside, ajugol, apigenin 7-O-β-dglucopyranoside, apigenin 7-O-neohesperidoside, and apigenin 7-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl (16)-β-dglucopyranoside (Kanchanapoom and Ruchirawat, 2007).…”