• Latest

Like humans, Chimpanzees use plants as medicine to treat injuries

June 23, 2024
UPC Rejects Shs6b Budget for Presidential Inauguration

Amolatar Leaders Pledge Support for Museveni in 2026 Elections

September 11, 2025
Boona FM 91.8 Temporarily Suspends Broadcast Following UCC Directive

Boona FM 91.8 Temporarily Suspends Broadcast Following UCC Directive

September 11, 2025
VINAStech Advert

City Pastor Narrates How Court Cemented His Katanga Valley Kibanja Ownership

September 11, 2025
Husbands can take wives’ surnames, court rules

Husbands can take wives’ surnames, court rules

September 11, 2025
NUP sets September 15-21 for MPs vetting

NUP sets September 15-21 for MPs vetting

September 11, 2025

Environmental activists appeal to political candidates to prioritize climate change

September 11, 2025
Africa’s Audio-Visual Rights in Focus as Kampala Hosts Regional Seminar

Africa’s Audio-Visual Rights in Focus as Kampala Hosts Regional Seminar

September 11, 2025

Diisi Medical Centre Under Scrutiny Over Negligence After Mother Dies of Postpartum Hemorrhage

September 11, 2025
Uganda, China Deepen Economic Ties as Strategic Investment Talks Advance

Uganda, China Deepen Economic Ties as Strategic Investment Talks Advance

September 10, 2025

UPC Asks EC to Justify Bounced Candidates

September 10, 2025
28 Suspected Ebola Cases, 15 Deaths Reported in Congo

Why Environmental Activists Are Protesting EACOP

September 10, 2025
Public Order Management Drills Underway in Kigezi Region Ahead of 2026 Elections

Public Order Management Drills Underway in Kigezi Region Ahead of 2026 Elections

September 10, 2025
  • About Us
  • Internship
  • Contact Us
Friday, September 12, 2025
Parrots Media
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • News
    Boona FM 91.8 Temporarily Suspends Broadcast Following UCC Directive

    Boona FM 91.8 Temporarily Suspends Broadcast Following UCC Directive

    Husbands can take wives’ surnames, court rules

    Husbands can take wives’ surnames, court rules

    Africa’s Audio-Visual Rights in Focus as Kampala Hosts Regional Seminar

    Africa’s Audio-Visual Rights in Focus as Kampala Hosts Regional Seminar

    UPC Asks EC to Justify Bounced Candidates

    FDC Urges Mental Screening for Political Aspirants

    FDC wants mental health services mainstreamed beyond Butabika

    Trending Tags

  • Climate Change
  • Business
  • Science and Technology
  • Sports and Entertainment
  • Business
  • Others
    • Education
    • Lifestyle
    • Religion
    • Opinions
  • News
    Boona FM 91.8 Temporarily Suspends Broadcast Following UCC Directive

    Boona FM 91.8 Temporarily Suspends Broadcast Following UCC Directive

    Husbands can take wives’ surnames, court rules

    Husbands can take wives’ surnames, court rules

    Africa’s Audio-Visual Rights in Focus as Kampala Hosts Regional Seminar

    Africa’s Audio-Visual Rights in Focus as Kampala Hosts Regional Seminar

    UPC Asks EC to Justify Bounced Candidates

    FDC Urges Mental Screening for Political Aspirants

    FDC wants mental health services mainstreamed beyond Butabika

    Trending Tags

  • Climate Change
  • Business
  • Science and Technology
  • Sports and Entertainment
  • Business
  • Others
    • Education
    • Lifestyle
    • Religion
    • Opinions
No Result
View All Result
Parrots Media
No Result
View All Result
Home

Like humans, Chimpanzees use plants as medicine to treat injuries

Gilbert Akampa Kakurugu by Gilbert Akampa Kakurugu
June 23, 2024
in RELIGION
0

Chimpanzee

0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on X

DISCOVERY

Wild chimpanzees eat plants that have pain-relieving and anti-bacterial properties to heal themselves, according to scientists.

READ ALSO

5,430 Recive Medical Services at AMDA Camp Rekindling Hope and Healing in Historic Pilgrimage

Hoima Diocese Bishop Mourns Victims of Kigorobya Road Tragedy

They described their “detective work” in the forests of Uganda – observing animals that appeared injured or sick to work out whether they were self-medicating with plants.

When an injured animal sought out something specific from the forest to eat, the researchers collected samples of that plant and had it analysed. Most of the plants tested turned out to have antibacterial properties.

The scientists, who published their findings in the journal PLOS One, think the chimps could even help in the search for new medicines.

“We can’t test everything in these forests for their medicinal properties, lead researcher Dr Elodie Freymann, from the University of Oxford, said. “So why not test the plants that we have this information about – plants the chimps are seeking out?”

Over the past four years, Dr Freymann has spent months at a time following and carefully observing two communities of wild chimpanzees in Budongo Central Forest Reserve.

As well as looking for signs of pain – an animal limping or holding its body in an unusual way – she and her colleagues collected samples of droppings and urine to check for illness and infection.

They paid particular attention when an injured or ill chimpanzee sought out something they do not normally eat – such as tree bark or fruit skin.

“We were looking for these behavioural clues that the plants might be medicinal,” Dr Freymann explained.

She described one particular chimp – a male – that had a badly wounded hand.

“He wasn’t using the hand to walk, he was limping,” she recalled. While the rest of this animal’s group were sitting around eating, the injured chimp limped away looking for ferns. “He was the only chimp to seek out and eat these ferns.”

Ninsiima Advert

The researchers collected and analysed the fern – a plant called Christella parasitica, which turned out to have potent anti-inflammatory properties.

In total, the researchers collected 17 samples from 13 different plant species and sent them to be tested by Dr Fabien Schultz, at the Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences in Germany.

That revealed that almost 90% of the extracts inhibited bacterial growth, and a third had natural anti-inflammatory properties, meaning they could reduce pain and promote healing.

All the injured and ill chimps reported in this study fully recovered, Dr Freymann was happy to report. “The one who ate ferns was using his hand again within the next few days,” she explained.

“Of course, we can’t 100% prove that any of these cases were a direct result of eating these resources,” she told BBC News.

“But it highlights the medicinal knowledge that can be gained from observing other species in the wild and underscores the urgent need to preserve these ‘forest pharmacies’ for future generations.”

Tags: Budongo ForestChimpanzeesHumans plants and medicineMedicinal plantsPlants as medicine

Related Posts

5,430 Recive Medical Services at AMDA Camp Rekindling Hope and Healing in Historic Pilgrimage
RELIGION

5,430 Recive Medical Services at AMDA Camp Rekindling Hope and Healing in Historic Pilgrimage

August 31, 2025
Hoima Diocese Bishop Mourns Victims of Kigorobya Road Tragedy
RELIGION

Hoima Diocese Bishop Mourns Victims of Kigorobya Road Tragedy

August 6, 2025
Victoria University Backs Pastor Bugembe’s 20-Year Gospel Music Milestone
News

Victoria University Backs Pastor Bugembe’s 20-Year Gospel Music Milestone

July 16, 2025
Police Urge Vigilance Amid Ongoing Terror Threats
Religion

Police Urge Vigilance Amid Ongoing Terror Threats

June 6, 2025
Journalists blocked from Martyrs Day Venue
RELIGION

Journalists blocked from Martyrs Day Venue

June 3, 2025
News

Malawian, Tanzanian Students Jet In for Uganda Martyrs Essay Awards

June 2, 2025
Next Post
Western Region NRM Mobilizers Launch Campaign to Celebrate President Museveni’s Achievements

Western Region NRM Mobilizers Launch Campaign to Celebrate President Museveni's Achievements

POPULAR NEWS

Minister Amongi, Akena Scrapped from EC Voters’ Register Oops

Minister Amongi, Akena Scrapped from EC Voters’ Register Oops

September 3, 2025
Catholic Priest Speaks Out Against Museveni and Son’s Leadership

Catholic Priest Speaks Out Against Museveni and Son’s Leadership

February 16, 2025

“Life Is Scum”: Kabale University Student Leaves Suicide Note, Takes Own Life

July 25, 2025

Former IGP Okoth Ogola Dies

February 14, 2025

CAF Warns Fans Against Obscene and Politically Charged Jerseys at Namboole

August 20, 2025

EDITOR'S PICK

MTN Uganda Revamps the Non-Expirable Freedom Bundles

MTN Uganda Revamps the Non-Expirable Freedom Bundles

February 27, 2021

Ssemujju conceals plans to contest in FDC Structure elections

July 17, 2023

Lukwago wants gov’t to give Shs 252,000 to each househols as COVID-19 relief food.

June 21, 2021

Stakeholders Push for Zero-Waste, Agroecology in Revised Nutrition Policy

April 15, 2025
VINAStech advert VINAStech advert VINAStech advert
ADVERTISEMENT

About

Parrots Media

A Public Relations and Media Services Company registered and licensed to operate in Uganda and the Great Lakes Region.

Follow us

Categories

  • Business
  • BUSINESS REPORTS
  • CLIMATE ACTION REPORTS
  • Climate Change
  • COMMUNITY REPORTS
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • FEATURES
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • News
  • OBITUARY
  • Obituary
  • Opinions
  • Religion
  • RELIGION
  • Science and Technology
  • Sports
  • Sports and Entertainment
  • TOURISM

Recent Updates

  • Amolatar Leaders Pledge Support for Museveni in 2026 Elections
  • Boona FM 91.8 Temporarily Suspends Broadcast Following UCC Directive
  • City Pastor Narrates How Court Cemented His Katanga Valley Kibanja Ownership
  • Husbands can take wives’ surnames, court rules
September 2025
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930  
« Aug    
  • About Us
  • Internship
  • Contact Us

© 2025 Parrots Media | Website Designed and Maintained by VINAStech

No Result
View All Result
  • Parrots Media
  • News
  • Business
  • Science and Technology
  • Sports and Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Others
    • Climate Change
    • Education
    • Religion
    • Opinions

© 2025 Parrots Media | Website Designed and Maintained by VINAStech

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

You cannot copy content of this page