Orangutans use leaves to treat wounds

Orangutans chew the Akar Kuning tree found in the rainforests of Southeast Asia to treat wounds.

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior - Germany have just published in the journal Scientific Reports that some wild animals are capable of using leaves as medicine to treat wounds.

Researchers observed male Sumatran orangutans named Rakus in Gunung Leuser National Park, Indonesia chewing leaves with medicinal properties and applying them to wounds for more than 30 minutes, until the wound was completely covered.

Rakus' wound before treatment (left) and more than a month later (right). Photo: Armas/Safruddin

However, it is possible that Rakus only accidentally discovered the benefits of the Akar Kuning plant. Rakus had a fairly large wound under his right eye, suspected to have been caused by a fight with a fellow species. The wound on Rakus' face healed in less than 5 days, before completely healing within a month. "The leaves of the Akar Kuning plant have pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory properties and are often used in traditional medicine to treat diseases such as dysentery, diabetes or malaria.

"Orangutans chew the Akar Kuning tree found in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia to treat wounds," said Dr. Isabelle Laumer, primatologist and cognitive biologist at the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior in Germany.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/duoi-uoi-dung-la-cay-chua-vet-thuong-196240504194342741.htm