Zoopharmacognosy

Zoopharmacognosy

", November 1998.]

Observers have noticed that some species ingest non-foods, such as toxic plants, clay or charcoal, to ward off parasitic infestation or poisoning. [Biser, Jennifer A. (1998). [http://nationalzoo.si.edu/publications/zoogoer/1998/1/reallywildremedies.cfm "Really Wild Remedies — Medicinal Plant Use by Animals."] Smithsonian National Zoological Park website; accessed on 2005-01-13. (provides several examples)] For example, Jane Goodall has seen chimpanzees eating certain bushes to make themselves sick. Some Brazilian parrots eat kaolin (a form of clay).

Illustrating the medicinal knowledge of some species, apes have been observed selecting a particular part of a medicinal plant by taking off leaves, then breaking the stem to suck out the juice."Biology" (4th edition). N.A. Campbell, p.23 'An Interview with Eloy Rodriguez' (Benjamin Cummings NY, 1996) ISBN 0-8053-1957-3] In an interview with Neil Campbell, Rodriguez describes the importance of biodiversity to medicine::Some of the compounds we've identified by zoopharmacognosy kill parasitic worms, and some of these chemicals may be useful against tumors. There is no question that the templates for most drugs are in the natural world.

Two observations have been made by William Astor regarding the self-medicative behavior of Estridid finches of several species. [Astor, William (2008) [http://astorwilliam.tripod.com/ The Finch Self-Medication Website] ]

1. Estrildid finches in captivity of several different species have been observed to correctly target appropriate antibiotics out of a range made available to them through which they were able to cure themselves of life threatening diseases ( as opposed to relatively minor ailments like indigestion.)

2. Estrildid finches in captivity of several different species do not learn this self-medicative behavior from their parents or others in the flock through social learning like apes and chimpanzees are suspected of doing. This ability of Estrildid finches seems to be innate but as to how they can do it is a complete mystery.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.pri.kyoto-u.ac.jp/shakai-seitai/seitai/huffman/index.html Michael Huffman] , another pioneer in the field


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Biodiversity and drugs — Biodiversity plays vital roles in maintaining human and animal health. A wide variety of plants, animals and fungi are used as medicine, essential vitamins, painkillers etc. Natural products have been recognized and used as medicines by ancient… …   Wikipedia

  • Economics of biodiversity — There have been a number of economic arguments advanced regarding evaluation of the benefits of biodiversity. Most are anthropocentric but economists have also debated whether biodiversity is inherently valuable, independent of benefits to… …   Wikipedia

  • Geophagy — The red and green macaw eats clay from exposed riverbanks, allowing it to utilize nutrients in harmful foods. Geophagy is the practice of eating earthy or soil like substances such as clay, and chalk. It exists in animals in the wild and also in… …   Wikipedia

  • Medication — Medication, also referred to as medicine, can be loosely defined as any substance intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease. [ [http://www.fda.gov/opacom/laws/fdcact/fdcact1.htm US Federal Food, Drug …   Wikipedia

  • Richard Wrangham — is a British primatologist. He is a Professor in Biological Anthropology at Harvard University. His primary studies include chimpanzee behaviour in Kibale Forest National Park, Uganda. His current interest is the study of human evolution in which …   Wikipedia

  • Eloy Rodriguez — (born January 7, 1947 [http://web.archive.org/web/20030408173505/http://csy.com/DrEloyRodriguez.htm Profile at CSY.com] (archived copy from April 8, 2003)] ) is a Mexican American biochemist. He is the James Perkins Professor of Environmental… …   Wikipedia

  • Etnobotánica — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda La etnobotánica estudia las relaciones entre los grupos humanos y su entorno vegetal, es decir el uso y aprovechamiento de las plantas en los diferentes espacios culturales y en el tiempo. Contenido 1 Etimología y… …   Wikipedia Español

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”