Self Medication by Orangatans Using Bioactive Plants. [View all]
The following paper is in Nature's open sourced journal Scientific Reports: Self-medication by orang-utans (Pongo pygmaeus) using bioactive properties of Dracaena cantleyi (I. Foitová et al, Scientific Reports 7, Article number: 16653 (2017))
This apparently is not the first instance among primates of this type of behavior, but it is only one of two examples of such a behavior of apes not originating in Africa. (As we originated in Africa, our particular species of ape does not qualify.)
According to this paper, orangatans have been observed to process (by chewing) this plant and then rubbing the resulting lather on their fur. Biological assays of the pulp of the plant showed, using cellular assays, that the plant had pronounced anti-inflammatory properties.
The paper is, again, open sourced, so there is no reason to excerpt it.
It's interesting, especially for the description of other species that self medicate.
Fascinating, I think.
Have a nice Friday tomorrow.
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