Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Zoopharmacognosy
Why in the News?
Researchers highlighted the zoopharmacognosy (practice of self-medication) by a Sumatran orangutan using the plant Fibraurea tinctoria to treat a facial wound.
What is Zoopharmacognosy?
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Key Studies and Observations
- Neanderthals: In 2012, a Nature publication found that Neanderthals in Northern Spain used plants like yarrow and chamomile to treat infections.
Other Animal Species:
- Primates: Chimpanzees eat bitter leaves, like Vernonia amygdalina, to get rid of intestinal worms.
- Pregnant lemurs nibbling on tamarind leaves to aid milk production.
- Reindeer: Reindeer eat mushrooms like Amanita muscaria, possibly to fight off parasites.
- Birds: Starlings line their nests with antimicrobial plants to protect their young from diseases.
- Elephants: Pregnant elephants in Kenya eat specific plants to help induce labor.
- Dogs: Dogs chew grass and then vomit to clear their stomachs of infections.
PYQ:[2019] Recently, there was a growing awareness in our country about the importance of Himalayan nettle (Girardinia diversifolia) because it is found to be a sustainable source of: (a) Anti-malarial drug (b) Biodiesel (c) Pulp for paper industry (d) Textile fibre |
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