Originally reported in Sky News at Sky News.
Scientists have witnessed a remarkable event: a male Sumatran orangutan named Rakus using a medicinal plant to treat a facial wound. This groundbreaking observation marks the first recorded instance of a wild animal using plant-based medicine.
Researchers observed Rakus selectively tearing off leaves from a climbing plant called Akar Kuning, chewing them, and then applying the mixture to an injury below his right eye. He spent over 30 minutes covering the wound with the juicy mixture until it was completely treated.
Two months later, the wound had nearly vanished, with no signs of infection during the healing process. Within five days, the wound had closed, and it healed entirely in under a month.
The Akar Kuning plant, native to Southeast Asian tropical forests, is known for its pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties. It is traditionally used to treat ailments like dysentery, diabetes, and malaria. Researchers concluded that Rakus specifically used this plant for its medicinal properties, as he did not apply it to any other part of his body.
Dr. Isabelle Laumer, a primatologist and cognitive biologist at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour, stated that Rakus likely sustained his injury during a fight with another male orangutan. Chemical analysis of the plant revealed it contains alkaloids with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antioxidant, and other properties beneficial for wound healing.
Dr. Laumer also noted that Rakus rested more than usual after his injury, highlighting the positive effects of sleep on wound healing due to increased growth hormone release, protein synthesis, and cell division during rest.
The origins of Rakus’s knowledge about the plant’s healing properties remain unclear. Dr. Laumer suggested that orangutans at the Suaq Balimbing research site in Indonesia might have accidentally discovered the plant’s benefits while feeding.
The findings, published in the journal Scientific Reports, provide insights into the evolution of wound medication knowledge in humans. The study site in Indonesia is a protected rainforest home to 150 critically endangered Sumatran orangutans, with only around 7,500 left in the wild according to the World Wildlife Fund.
Fortunately, this beautiful animal will not be overbilled for medical treatments and will probably not need HealthLock. 😊
Sources:
Originally reported in Sky News at Sky News.
