[A chimpanzee in its natural habitat. Photo credit: Pixabay]

A recent study conducted by the University of Oxford reveals that chimpanzees consume plants with medicinal properties to address their health issues.

Many plants produce compounds with medicinal effects on humans and other animals. 

Wild chimpanzees consume a variety of plants, including some that offer little nutritional value but may help alleviate illness symptoms. 

However,  determining whether chimpanzees actively self-medicate by intentionally seeking out plants with healing properties for their specific ailments, or if they simply consume these plants incidentally has been challenging.

In an effort to  investigate this, a research team combined behavioral observations of wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) with pharmacological analysis of the potentially medicinal plants they consume. 

The team observed and assessed the behavior and health of 51 chimpanzees from two human-habituated communities in the Budongo Central Forest Reserve in Uganda.

They then gathered plant extracts from 13 species of trees and herbs in the reserve, which they suspected chimpanzees might use for self-medication. 

This included plants observed being eaten by sick or injured chimpanzees that were not part of their usual diet, as well as plants that previous studies suggested might be consumed by chimpanzees for their medicinal benefits.

The extracts underwent  analysis for their anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties at Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences, under the direction of Dr. Fabien Schultz.

A scientific study examined various plant extracts and discovered significant medicinal potential. 

The majority of tested extracts, approximately  88%, demonstrated the ability to inhibit bacterial growth, while a third of them exhibited anti-inflammatory characteristics. 

Notably, wood samples from an Alstonia boonei tree, part of the Dogbane family, showed the most potent antibacterial effects and concurrent anti-inflammatory properties.

Researchers hypothesized that these properties might explain why chimpanzees might selectively consume this particular tree species, potentially using it as a natural wound treatment. 

This scientific observation aligns with traditional practices, as Alstonia boonei is already recognized in East African traditional medicine as a versatile remedy. 

Local communities have traditionally used this plant to address a diverse range of health conditions, including bacterial infections, digestive disorders, snake bite treatment, and respiratory issues like asthma.

They also discovered notable anti-inflammatory properties in the bark and resin of the East African mahogany (Khaya anthotheca) and the leaves of a specific fern (Christella parasitica).

One particularly compelling observation documented a male chimpanzee with a hand injury deliberately selecting and consuming fern leaves. 

The scientists hypothesized that this behavior might have been a strategic attempt to alleviate pain and reduce swelling of the wound.

Furthermore, the team observed an unprecedented behavior when a chimpanzee with a parasitic infection consumed bark from the cat-thorn tree (Scutia myrtina)—a plant that had not been previously observed in the group's diet. 

Laboratory analysis confirmed that the bark possessed remarkable dual capabilities, revealing both anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. 

These findings suggest that chimpanzees may possess a sophisticated understanding of medicinal plants and actively engage in deliberate self-medication strategies.

This research is the most comprehensive investigation to date, uniquely integrating observational behavioral data with scientific pharmacological testing to explore how wild chimpanzees potentially use bark and dead wood for medicinal purposes.