Gorillas' Diets Reveal Plants with Potential to Combat Superbugs

Researchers identify four plants consumed by wild gorillas in Gabon that show significant antibacterial properties against drug-resistant E. coli strains.

Scientists studied the eating habits of western lowland gorillas in Gabon's Moukalaba-Doudou National Park and identified four plants with medicinal properties.
The plants—Ceiba pentandra, Myrianthus arboreus, Milicia excelsa, and Ficus—are also used by local traditional healers.
Laboratory tests showed that the bark of these plants contains compounds like phenols, alkaloids, and flavonoids with antibacterial and antioxidant activities.
The fromager tree (Ceiba pentandra) demonstrated the most potent antibacterial effects against all tested multidrug-resistant E. coli strains.
This research underscores the potential of biodiverse regions to yield new drugs and highlights the importance of preserving these ecosystems.