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Thiarubrine A, a bioactive constituent ofAspilia (Asteraceae) consumed by wild chimpanzees

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Summary

Two African species ofAspilia (Asteraceae), which are used medicinally by man and which are eaten by wild chimpanzees in an unusual manner, were found to contain the potent antibiotic thiarubrine A as a major leaf phytochemical. Its presence in leaf material strengthens the view that the feeding behavior of wild chimpanzees is related to special physiological or pharmacological effects on the animals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Phytochemical Laboratory, Department of Ecology and Biology, University of California, 92717, Irvine, California, USA

    E. Rodriguez, M. Aregullin, T. Nishida, S. Uehara, R. Wrangham, Z. Abramowski, A. Finlayson & G. H. N. Towers

  2. Department of Anthropology, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    E. Rodriguez, M. Aregullin, T. Nishida, S. Uehara, R. Wrangham, Z. Abramowski, A. Finlayson & G. H. N. Towers

  3. Sapporo University, Japan

    E. Rodriguez, M. Aregullin, T. Nishida, S. Uehara, R. Wrangham, Z. Abramowski, A. Finlayson & G. H. N. Towers

  4. Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, 48109, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

    E. Rodriguez, M. Aregullin, T. Nishida, S. Uehara, R. Wrangham, Z. Abramowski, A. Finlayson & G. H. N. Towers

  5. Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, V6T 2B1, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    E. Rodriguez, M. Aregullin, T. Nishida, S. Uehara, R. Wrangham, Z. Abramowski, A. Finlayson & G. H. N. Towers

Authors
  1. E. Rodriguez
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  2. M. Aregullin
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  3. T. Nishida
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  4. S. Uehara
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  5. R. Wrangham
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  6. Z. Abramowski
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  7. A. Finlayson
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  8. G. H. N. Towers
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Rodriguez, E., Aregullin, M., Nishida, T. et al. Thiarubrine A, a bioactive constituent ofAspilia (Asteraceae) consumed by wild chimpanzees. Experientia 41, 419–420 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02004537

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02004537

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