Investigating the use of medicinal plants by orangutans (genus Pongo Lacépede, 1789: Hominidae) to combat parasitic infection
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| Year of publication | 2013 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
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| Description | All species of orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus ssp.) are endangered. The study of the epidemiology of orangutan parasitic infection is required for successful conservation planning and wildlife management of the remaining fragmented populations. This includes understanding orangutan behaviour influencing parasitic infection. Zoopharmacognosy is the term that describes the behaviour of wild animals using specific wild plants with medicinal effects. This project aims to evaluate the hypothesis that the eating of specific plants, or their parts, by orangutans corresponds to a decrease in parasite load. This will be investigated by testing selected plant compounds for antiparasitic activity on selected parasite cultures, using in vivo and in vitro models. Identifying antiparasitic plants utilised by orangutans will improve the knowledge of plant species required by wild and captive orangutans, aid teaching possibly reintroduced oranguatans to utilise these plants and possibly identify plant compounds with pharmaceutical medicinal purposes for humans. |
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