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

J 2017

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

MORROGH-BERNARD, H. C., Ivona FOITOVÁ, Z. YEEN, P. WILKIN, R. DE MARTIN et. al.

Basic information

Original name

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

Authors

MORROGH-BERNARD, H. C. (360 Indonesia), Ivona FOITOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Z. YEEN (360 Indonesia), P. WILKIN (826 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), R. DE MARTIN (40 Austria), L. RÁROVÁ (203 Czech Republic), K. DOLEŽAL (203 Czech Republic), W. NURCAHYO (360 Indonesia) and M. OLŠANSKÝ (203 Czech Republic)

Edition

Scientific Reports, LONDON, NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP, 2017, 2045-2322

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10613 Zoology

Country of publisher

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Impact factor

Impact factor: 4.122

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/17:00095485

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-16621-w

UT WoS

000416891400055

Keywords in English

STEROIDAL SAPONINS; CAPUCHIN MONKEYS; BEHAVIOR; CHIMPANZEES

Abstract

V originále

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 orangutan 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 TNF alpha-induced inflammatory cytokine production (E-selectin, ICAM1, 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.

Links

GAP505/11/1163, research and development project

Name: Protizánětlivá aktivita extraktů z rostlin Indonésie a jejich účinek na průběh oportunních parazitóz

Investor: Czech Science Foundation

Citovat

MORROGH-BERNARD, H. C., Ivona FOITOVÁ, Z. YEEN, P. WILKIN, R. DE MARTIN, L. RÁROVÁ, K. DOLEŽAL, W. NURCAHYO and M. OLŠANSKÝ. Self-medication by orang-utans (Pongo pygmaeus) using bioactive properties of Dracaena cantleyi. Scientific Reports. LONDON: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP, 2017, vol. 7, November, p. nestránkováno, 7 pp. ISSN 2045-2322. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-16621-w.

@article{1407581,
   author = {MorroghandBernard, H. C. and Foitová, Ivona and Yeen, Z. and Wilkin, P. and de Martin, R. and Rárová, L. and Doležal, K. and Nurcahyo, W. and Olšanský, M.},
   article_location = {LONDON},
   article_number = {November},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-16621-w},
   keywords = {STEROIDAL SAPONINS; CAPUCHIN MONKEYS; BEHAVIOR; CHIMPANZEES},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {2045-2322},
   journal = {Scientific Reports},
   title = {Self-medication by orang-utans (Pongo pygmaeus) using bioactive properties of Dracaena cantleyi},
   volume = {7},
   year = {2017}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1407581
AU  - Morrogh-Bernard, H. C. - Foitová, Ivona - Yeen, Z. - Wilkin, P. - de Martin, R. - Rárová, L. - Doležal, K. - Nurcahyo, W. - Olšanský, M.
PY  - 2017
TI  - Self-medication by orang-utans (Pongo pygmaeus) using bioactive properties of Dracaena cantleyi
JF  - Scientific Reports
VL  - 7
IS  - November
SP  - nestránkováno
EP  - nestránkováno
PB  - NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
SN  - 20452322
KW  - STEROIDAL SAPONINS
KW  - CAPUCHIN MONKEYS
KW  - BEHAVIOR
KW  - CHIMPANZEES
N2  - 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 orangutan 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 TNF alpha-induced inflammatory cytokine production (E-selectin, ICAM1, 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.
ER  -

MORROGH-BERNARD, H. C., Ivona FOITOVÁ, Z. YEEN, P. WILKIN, R. DE MARTIN, L. RÁROVÁ, K. DOLEŽAL, W. NURCAHYO and M. OLŠANSKÝ. Self-medication by orang-utans (Pongo pygmaeus) using bioactive properties of Dracaena cantleyi. \textit{Scientific Reports}. LONDON: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP, 2017, vol.~7, November, p.~nestránkováno, 7 pp. ISSN~2045-2322. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-16621-w.

Detailed Information on Publication Record