What gorillas can teach us about health

Can gorillas teach us a thing or two about herbal medicine?

They regular eat plants that have powerful antibacterial properties that even kill E.coli bacteria that our drugs can’t combat.

Scientists have been observing the self-medicating habits of western lowland gorillas in Gabon that regularly eat the bark of four native plant species that are also used in traditional medicine: the fromager tree (Ceiba pentandra), giant yellow mulberry (Myrianthus arboreus), African teak (Milicia excelsa) and fig trees (Ficus).

Researchers from the Interdisciplinary Medical Research Centre in Gabon tested the bark samples for their antibacterial and antioxidant properties, and discovered they were more powerful than most of the drugs we use.  In particular, the fromager samples were able to kill the Escherichia coli bacterium, which can cause life-threatening gut problems.  The bacterium is resistant to all drugs.

All the samples contained phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids and proanthocyanidins, polyphenols that are antioxidants.

What do you think? Start a conversation over on the... WDDTY Community