Zoopharmacognosy

1. Zoopharmacognosy
By
Shafaq Khan
WisamAli Khan
“Zoopharmacognosy is a behavior in which animals self-medicate
by either ingesting or topically applying plants, soils, insects, and
psychoactive drugs to prevent or reduce the harmful effects of
pathogens and toxins.”
This term was coined by a biochemist Dr. Eloy Rodriguez. The
term is derived from Greek language, “zoo” means animal,
“pharma” means drug, and “gnosy” means knowing. It is animal’s
innate behavior to protect itself from diseases. Self-medication
strategies are survival skills owned by animal through natural
selection.
Zoopharmacognosy can be classified as preventive or therapeutic
according to behavior:
 Preventive/ Prophylactic:
As name indicates, it means before poisoning or infection
 Therapeutic:
It means after infection, to fight against pathogen or
poisoning.
Mamber breed, which generally exhibit low propensity to
consume the anti-parasitic shrub Pistacialentiscus, increased
their preference for this plant following infection with 10,000 L3 larvae of mixed
gastrointestinal nematodes, suggesting therapeutic self-medication. In contrast, goat kids from
the Damascus breed typically ingest high amounts of the aforementioned plant irrespective of
infection, thus exhibiting prophylactic self-medication. Therapeutic self-medication emerges
from a learning process while prophylactic ingestion of medicinal plants encompasses behaviors
that are rooted in genetic adaptations which are not necessarily linked to the current
physiological state of an animal.

2. Mechanism (anti-parasitic effect):
The anti-parasitic effect can be due to two possible mechanisms:
i) Animal ingests materials that have anti-parasitic properties
like these phytochemicals may decrease attachment ability
of worms with mucosal lining of intestines or worms may
be attracted to folds of leaves by chemotaxis.
ii) The ingested material may induce vomiting or diarrhea
which decrease the gut transit time and ultimately causing
worm expulsion and thus interrupting the life cycle of
parasites.
Methods Of Self-medication:
There are three methods of self-medication:
 Ingestion: Animal ingests a chemical with potential medicinal
response. This selective feeding improves health and feeding.
Following are examples of animals ingesting specific plants or
phytochemicals against different conditions:
Sr
no.
Animal Ingested materials Chemical Mode Of Action
1 Chimpanzees Vernoniaamyddalina sesquiterpene
lactones and
steroid glucosides
anti-parasitic activity against
Schistosoma, plasmodium and
Leishmania
Desmodiumgangeti
cum
Oesophagostomum stephanostomum
2 Chimpanzees,
Bonobos, and
Gorillas
Aframomumangustif
olium
Anti-microbial activity
3 Anubis baboons
and Hamadryas
baboons
fruits and leaves of
Balanitesaegyptiaca
Diosgenin Against Schistosomiasis (Diosgenin is
hormone precursor which presumes to
hinder growth of aschaistosomes)
4 African
elephants
Leaves of tree from
the family
Boraginaceae
induce birth by chewing on the leaves
5 Muriqui
monkeys
Leaves of Apulia
leiocarpaand
Platypodiumelegans
Isoflavanoids
(compound
similar to
Decrease fertility
(may increase estrogen levels in the
body)

3. oestrogen)
the fruit of
Enterlobiumcontorti
siliquim(monkey’s
ear)
Stigmasterol
(precursor to
progesterone)
Increase fertiliaty(increase the
monkey’s chances of becoming
pregnant)
6 White-nosed
coatis
menthol-scented
resin from freshly
scraped bark of
Trattinnickiaaspera
triterpenes α -
and β-amyrin, the
eudesmane
derivative β-
selinene, and the
sesquiterpene
lactone 8β-
hydroxyasterolide
Against ectoparasites (fleas, ticks, and
lice) as well as biting insects
(mosquitoes)
7 Cats and Dogs  Plant
material
 Catnip
 Dog grass
Induce vomiting
8 Indian Wild
Boars
Roots of pigweed Anthelmentic
9 Pigs Pomegranate roots Alkaloids Against tapeworms
10 Domestic sheep sodium bentonite
polyethylene glycol
and dicalcium
phosphate
Alleviate malaise
11 Other
Ruminants
Plant secondary
compounds
Against gastrointestinal parasites
12 Parrot species Kaolin or Clay
i.e *Geophagy
releases minerals and absorbs toxic
compounds from the gut
13 Pregnant
lemurs
Tamarind and fig
leaves and barks
Help in milk production
Kill parasites
Successful births
Geophagy* is behavior of eating clay or soil which helps in alleviating Gastrointestinal Disorders
 Topical Application:
Some animals apply substances with medicinal properties to their skin
which in some cases is known as self-anointing. This could be either
prophylactic or curative. Following are the observed examples:

4. Sr.
no.
Animal Substances Chemicals Mode of action
1 Female
capuchin
monkey
in captivity was observed
using tools covered in a
sugar-based syrup
Groom wounds of herself and her
infants
2 North
American
brown bears
make a paste of Osha roots
(Ligusticumporteri) and saliva
coumarins repel insects or soothe bites
3 Some
Primates
rub millipedes onto their fur
and skin
benzoquinones Repel insects
4 Birds **Anting formic acid Against feather lice
Soothe irritated skin
Feather maintenance
5 European
starlings
line their nests with wild
carrot (Daucuscarota)
Chicks from nests lined with this
have greater levels of hemoglobin
as laboratory proves that this
inhibit growth of instars of mites
6 House
sparrows
line their nests with materials
from the Neem tree
(Azadirachtaindica)
and quinine rich leaves of
Krishnachua tree in season of
malaria
quinine controls the symptoms of malaria
Anting** is a behavior most often observed in birds by which birds rub crushed ants onto their
feather spine or allow ants to crawl over them.
 Absorption :
Some of examples of absorption include:
Sr.
no.
Animal Substances Chemicals Mode of Action
1 Wild
chimpanzees
whole leaves of the Aspilia
plant
thiarubrine-A Anti nematodal (Chemicals may
decrease adhesion of parasite and
leaf hairs trap parasite and bring it
out through GIT)
2 Bonobos non-chewed stem-strips of
(Manniophytonfulvum)
Anti-parasitic (Used in specific
season by some members of family)
Conclusion:
Comprehensively jotting the aforementioned facts, the phenomena of zoopharmacognosy is
found to be cost effective as it uses naturally available resources. Additionally, it is a natural,

5. time tested and safer method of preventing or treating various diseases or disorders. The most
significant advantage is the reduction of collateral damage possibly caused by drugs (most
important being antimicrobial resistance) and chemicals (hypersensitivities, toxicities, residual
effects) to environment, humans, plants and animals.