Self-medication by orang-utans (Pongo pygmaeus) using bioactive properties of Dracaena cantleyi

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F61389030%3A_____%2F17%3A00485747" target="_blank" >RIV/61389030:_____/17:00485747 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/00216224:14310/17:00095485 RIV/61989592:15310/17:73584390

Result on the web

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-16621-w" target="_blank" >http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-16621-w</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-16621-w" target="_blank" >10.1038/s41598-017-16621-w</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Self-medication by orang-utans (Pongo pygmaeus) using bioactive properties of Dracaena cantleyi

Original language description

Animals self-medicate using a variety of plant and arthropod secondary metabolites by either ingesting them or anointing them to their fur or skin apparently to repel ectoparasites and treat skin diseases. In this respect, much attention has been focused on primates. Direct evidence for self-medication among the great apes has been limited to Africa. Here we document self-medication in the only Asian great ape, orang-utans (Pongo pygmaeus), and for the first time, to our knowledge, the external application of an anti-inflammatory agent in animals. The use of leaf extracts from Dracaena cantleyi by orang-utan has been observed on several occasions, rubbing a foamy mixture of saliva and leaf onto specific parts of the body. Interestingly, the local indigenous human population also use a poultice of these leaves for the relief of body pains. We present pharmacological analyses of the leaf extracts from this species, showing that they inhibit TNFα-induced inflammatory cytokine production (E-selectin, ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and IL-6). This validates the topical anti-inflammatory properties of this plant and provides a possible function for its use by orang-utans. This is the first evidence for the deliberate external application of substances with demonstrated bioactive potential for self-medication in great apes.

Czech name

—

Czech description

—

Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10611 - Plant sciences, botany

Project

Result was created during the realization of more than one project. More information in the Projects tab.

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2017

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Scientific Reports

ISSN

2045-2322

e-ISSN

—

Volume of the periodical

7

Issue of the periodical within the volume

NOV 30

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

7

Pages from-to

—

UT code for WoS article

000416891400055

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85037049859