The leaves of the Tristemma coronatum plant are known to induce sleep. Author provided
As cancer and other non-infectious diseases continue to rise all over the world it's become harder for scientists to find safe, effective treatments. In addition, bacteria are becoming more and more resistant to drugs and synthetic medicines have become harsher.
These challenges have led to searches for new solutions, including natural substances, like medicinal plants. Plant based medicines are known to have more benefits because they are less poisonous than synthetic versions. They also have compounds that compliment each other that help in disease prevention.
People have been using plants to make medicines for thousands of years. The World Health Organisation estimates that between 75% and 80% of the world's population uses at least some plant based medicines.
Africa has its own store of medicinal plants, such as those used in Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
I have been working with a group of scientists to find new ways to exploit plants for medicinal purposes. As part of the process we studied the eating habits and behaviour of some wild chimpanzees based at the Taï National Park in the south western region of Côte d'Ivoire. We identified what they ate, which included leaves, fruit and the stems of the plants. We then tested these in a laboratory.
Our idea followed on from a previous study on the park's chimpanzees which focused on the energy and protein balance in their diets. Our study focused on the medicinal properties of what they ate.
Our results suggest that the diets of chimpanzees are made up of plants that are a rich source of compounds that improve their immune systems and protect them from certain diseases. Our findings have opened the door to exploring the properties of these plants to test their ability to treat disease in humans.
Provided by The Conversation
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