Geophagy: soil consumption enhances the bioactivities of plants eaten by chimpanzees.

摘要: Geophagy, the deliberate ingestion of soil, is a widespread practice among animals, including humans. Although some cases are well documented, motivations and consequences this on health status consumer remain unclear. In paper, we focused our study chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) Kibale National Park, Uganda, after observing they sometimes ingest soil shortly before or consuming plant parts such as leaves Trichilia rubescens, which have in vitro anti-malarial properties. Chemical mineralogical analyses eaten by used local healer to treat diarrhoea revealed similar composition, clay mineralogy being dominated kaolinite. We modelled interaction between samples two types T. rubescens gastric intestinal compartments assayed properties these solutions. Results obtained for both support hypothesis that enhances pharmacological bio-available fraction. The adaptive function geophagy likely be multi-factorial. Nevertheless, medical literature most occidental people usually consider humans an aberrant behaviour, symptomatic metabolic dysfunction. Our results provide new evidence view maintaining health, explaining its persistence through evolution.