Phytochemical investigation and TLC screening for antioxidant activity of 24 plant species consumed by the Eastern Lowland Gorillas (Gorilla beringei ssp. graueri: Hominidae, Primates) endemic to Democratic Republic of the Congo

Humans and great apes (bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans) share a common gut anatomy. Although, some diseases that cause countless deaths in humans are ineffective or have minor non disturbing effects in apes. Because of their phylogenetic closeness and common neural pathways of chemosensory perception, humans and great apes, when displaying symptoms of illness could alter their foraging to ingest non-nutritive chemical as diet (pharmacophagy). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the chemical composition and the radical scavenging activity of 24 plants consumed by Gorilla beringei ssp. Graueri. Flavonoids and proanthocyanidins plant contents were evaluated by Aluminium nitrate method and vanillin-HCl assay respectively. Antioxidant activity was carried out by TLC bioautography method using 1,1-diphényl1- 2-picrylhydrazyle radical as model. The results of chemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, cardiotonic heterosids, tannins,  quinones, flavonoids, terpenoids and steroids. 12 plant species Begonia meyeri-johannis, Blotiella crenata, Cyathea manniana, Englerina woodfordioides, Galiniera saxifraga, Mimulopsis excellens, Myrica mildbraedii, Neoboutonia macrocalyx, Piper capense, Psychotria palustris, Solenostemon thyrsiflorum and Triumfetta cordifolia were found to contain flavonoids concentration higher or to equalizes to 1 mg QE/g extract. These plants displayed antioxidant activity thus justifying the role of animal self-medicative behaviour as source of possible epigenome modulators and may aid in the control of infectious diseases through the consumption of non-nutritive phytochemicals by infected animals. The results suggest that zoopharmacognosy might be a promising and complementary source of nutraceuticals for human health care including Sickle cell Disease; an ischemic disease causes by reactive oxygen species.