Bioactive properties of plant species ingested by chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) in the Kibale National Park, Uganda.
We measured the biological activities of a selected sample (84 crude extracts) of 24 species eaten by wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) in the Kibale National Park, western Uganda, to assess their potential chemotherapeutic values. Antibacterial, antimalarial, and/or antileishmania activities were observed in some crude extracts, and five of these extracts showed a significant cytotoxicity against human tumor cells. Active compounds isolated from three plant parts occasionally ingested by chimpanzees (Diospyros abyssinica (Ebenaceae) bark, Uvariopsis congensis (Annonaceae) leaves, and Trichilia rubescens (Meliaceae) leaves) showed highly significant medicinal properties. Two novel antiparasitic limonoids were isolated from Trichilia rubescens and their molecular structures were determined. In addition to elucidating the natural equilibrium maintained between hosts and pathogens, our investigation of the diet of wild chimpanzees may serve as a guideline to discovering plants with bioactive properties that should be preserved from destruction because of their health maintenance value for great ape populations.
Krief
Sabrina
S
ICSN, CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France. krief@mnhn.fr
Huffman
Michael A
MA
Sévenet
Thierry
T
Hladik
Claude-Marcel
CM
Grellier
Philippe
P
Loiseau
Philippe M
PM
Wrangham
Richard W
RW
D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D041022:Candida tropicalis / Q000187:drug effects; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007624:KB Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000502:physiology*; D010407:Penicillium / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010945:Plants, Edible / Q000737:chemistry*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects; D017172:Rhabditoidea / Q000187:drug effects; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000187:drug effects; D014454:Uganda
D010936:Plant Extracts