Plant powered medicine

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Humans have used plants for traditional and herbal medicines throughout history and continue to do so to this day. Humans know about thousands of medicinal plants but are not the only living things that use plants for healing. A recent study published in Scientific Reports observed the first systematically documented case of a non-human species using a biologically active plant to self-treat an active wound.

One of the first cases of animal self-treatment was documented in the 1960s by Jane Goodall, who observed whole leaves in the feces of chimpanzees. In the 1990s, this behavior was labeled as “whole leaf swallowing” and discovered to have anti-parasitic properties. Whole leaf swallowing has been observed in chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and the white-handed gibbon (Asian ape species). Researchers have observed several other instances of primates ingesting plant parts to prevent and treat illness. Chimpanzees were observed traveling away from their usual route to find the Vernonia amygdalina plant which has anti-parasitic properties. A wounded orangutan was observed eating ginger leaves which have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties.

This study took place in Gunung Leuser National Park in South Aceh, Indonesia. The research field was about 865 and consisted of peat swamp forest. Data collection began when an individual Sumatran orangutan was spotted in the forest and while they were active during the day. Researchers collected data at 2-minute intervals via photos, video recordings, and written notes. Researchers followed 1 individual male orangutan named Rakus throughout the summer of 2022 and observed him using liana leaves to treat his facial wound on June 25, 2022.

The study found that the liana plant is part of the orangutans’ diet in this area, but it is rarely eaten. Researchers collected data on 132 orangutans, and only 47 consumed liana leaves, fruits, or parts of the stem. They observed Rakus chewing the leaves without swallowing and using his fingers to put the plant juice onto his facial wound. He also covered the entire wound with chewed leaf material. The wound did not show any signs of infection, and by July 19, 2022, it had fully healed. Chemical analysis of the liana plant showed that it contains furanoditerpenoids and protoberberine alkaloids which have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antioxidant, and analgesic properties. Out of 38 plants used in ethnomedicine in South Vietnam, this specific liana plant had the highest antimalarial activity, and the leaves and stems can inhibit the growth of several bacteria species.

Orangutans are known to be incredibly smart, but this study demonstrates there is a lot to learn from our non-human primate counterparts. Humans need to respect the complex lives of primates and preserve their environments because these creatures hold many secrets of nature to learn from.

Wood is a 2025 PharmD at the University of Connecticut

Reference

Laumer IB, Rahman A, Rahmaeti T, et al. Active self-treatment of a facial wound with a biologically active plant by a male Sumatran orangutan. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):8932. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-58988-7