Researchers in Gabon study the plants consumed by gorillas, discovering their potential to fight multidrug-resistant bacteria. (Wikimedia Commons)  
Medicine

Gorillas May Hold Key to Future Drug Discoveries Through Self-Medicating Behavior

Study in Gabon Uncovers Four Medicinal Plants Used by Gorillas That Show Potential in Fighting Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria

Ankur Deka

A recent study conducted in Gabon suggests that wild gorillas could play a crucial role in future drug discoveries, thanks to their self-medicating behavior. Researchers have identified four tropical plants consumed by these primates that exhibit antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Some of these plants, also used by local healers, have shown promise in combating multidrug-resistant bacteria, offering hope for future medical breakthroughs.

The research, led by Leresche Even Doneilly Oyaba Yinda from the Interdisciplinary Medical Research Centre of Franceville, was published on September 11 in the journal PLOS ONE. The team aimed to investigate the plants consumed by western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) in the Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, Gabon, and to explore the medicinal potential of these plants.

To conduct the study, researchers observed the dietary habits of the gorillas and recorded the plants they ate. The team then interviewed 27 locals from the nearby village of Doussala, including traditional healers and herbalists, to learn more about the medicinal properties of these plants. Their findings were groundbreaking.

The researchers identified four native plant species that are both consumed by gorillas and widely used in traditional medicine: the fromager tree (Ceiba pentandra), giant yellow mulberry (Myrianthus arboreus), African teak (Milicia excelsa), and fig trees (Ficus). Samples of the bark from each plant were collected and analyzed for their chemical composition and medicinal potential, including antibacterial and antioxidant properties.

Wild western lowland gorillas in Gabon may be using local plants to self-medicate, offering insights into future drug discoveries. (Wikimedia Commons)

Laboratory tests revealed that the bark of all four plants demonstrated antibacterial activity against at least one multidrug-resistant strain of Escherichia coli (E. coli). Among the four, the fromager tree showed exceptional activity, effectively inhibiting all tested E. coli strains. The bark of these plants contained bioactive compounds such as phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, and proanthocyanidins, all of which are known to have medicinal properties.

The results of this study highlight the potential for future drug discoveries from the plant species consumed by wild gorillas. While the exact reasons for the gorillas' consumption of these plants—whether medicinal or otherwise—remain unclear, the findings offer valuable insights into the untapped medicinal resources hidden in biodiverse regions like central Africa.

Biodiversity hotspots, such as the forests of Gabon, are home to a vast reservoir of unexplored plant species that could hold the key to new therapies, particularly in the fight against drug-resistant bacterial infections. The study's authors suggest that these plants could be promising candidates for future research aimed at developing treatments for multidrug-resistant bacteria, one of the most significant public health challenges of our time.

The research falls under the emerging field of zoopharmacognosy, which focuses on the study of animals' use of natural substances for medicinal purposes. As the authors note, "Alternative medicines and therapies offer definite hope for the resolution of many present and future public health problems."

By investigating the self-medicating behaviors of animals like gorillas, scientists may uncover novel compounds and natural remedies that could address some of the most pressing global health issues, including the rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs.

Reference:

1. Leresche Even Doneilly Oyaba Yinda et al., “Antibacterial and antioxidant activities of plants consumed by western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in Gabon,” PLoS ONE 19, no. 9 (September 11, 2024): e0306957, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0306957.

2. ScienceDaily. “Self-medicating gorillas and traditional healers provide clues for new drug discovery,” September 24, 2024. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240911142129.htm.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Ankur Deka/MSM)

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