Sumatran orangutan Racus was photographed in Indonesia two months after self-treating his wounds with medicinal herbs. Photo credit: Reuters
May 2, 2024 issue of the Journal NatureIn the paper, “Male Sumatran orangutans use bioactive plants to self-heal facial wounds,” Romer et al. report how the Indonesian primate uses a paste from local plants to heal facial wounds. Fibraurea tinctoriaIn a 2012 Nature paper, “Neanderthals Eat Green Vegetables,” Matt Kaplan analyzed dental plaque from Neanderthals in northern Spain and found that they used plants like yarrow and chamomile to prevent infection and for general health.
Many of these plants have been used in traditional medicine by people around the world to overcome infections and for general health. A comprehensive review by R Raman and S Kandura (Resonance, pp. 245-253, March 2008) points out that University of Pennsylvania ecologist DH Janzen was the first to coin the term “zoopharmacology” and compile a list of animals that self-medicate by ingesting or applying topically certain plants, soils, and insects. Besides providing molecules essential for metabolism and growth, these animals also treat diseases and protect against parasites. (“Zoo” refers to animals, and “pharmacology” refers to the study of drugs and tonics for health.) Dr. EM Costa Neto of Bahia, Brazil, in his 2012 paper entitled “Animal Pharmacology: Self-Medicating Behaviours in Animals” in Environmental Sciences, Biology, and Joel Shulkin of Baltimore, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, list some plants and their roots, leaves and fruits that apes, monkeys, reindeer, bears and some birds (starlings) eat to stay healthy. Dogs treat themselves by chewing and spitting out grass to get rid of stomach infections. Pregnant lemurs nibble on tamarind leaves to improve milk production, and pregnant elephants in Kenya eat the leaves of plants from the purple family to stimulate childbirth. The Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder noted 2000 years ago that many animals made medical discoveries from certain plants that they ate, which became useful knowledge for indigenous peoples. Many of these medicinal plants have been known for more than 3,000 years in Africa, Egypt, the Middle East, India and China and are still in use today.
Traditional medicine
Medicinal plants Fibrourea tinctoria Sumatran orangutan contains the anti-inflammatory molecule berberine, which is used to heal wounds.Akal KuniLocally, the plant is used in traditional medicine systems, and in the subtropical south, its counterpart, called Oleander, is used as a treatment for jaundice. Aloe vera, a shrub found in India (called “Gwar Patta” in Hindi and “Katrajai” in Tamil) and many parts of Asia and Africa, has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties.
Several civilizations have documented and used naturopathic systems for thousands of years: Chinese traditional medicine is 5,000 years old, Arabia is 4,000 years old, and India’s Ayurveda is 5,000 years old. They all use a variety of plants, fruits and roots, such as: Rauwolfina serpentina (Sarpagandha in Hindi), Holy Basil (Tulsi), Aloe Vera, Wild Garlic, Onion, Oregano, Artichoke, Camphor, Coconut, Castor Oil etc. Natural product based “Chyavana Prasya” was popular in India and its preparation was recorded in Charaka Samhita around 700 BCE. We are now looking to biochemists and pharmaceutical companies to come up with new natural product molecules.
