BIOPIRACY Imitations Not Innovations - Biopirateria

1. ACHYRANTHES ASPERA
Other names: Latjira in Hindi, Apamargah in Sanskrit, Apang in Bengali,
Katalati in Malyalam, Nayurivi in Tamil, Uttaren in Telugu, Prickly-chaff flower
plant in English.
Description of the plant and its location: It is a stiff erect herb about 1m
in height with angular, ribbed and branched stems, thick leaves, greenish white
flowers with a tinge of reddish purple and sub-cylindrical seeds truncated at the
apex. It is found throughout India, along roadsides as well as on hills up to 900
m.
Part/s used: Whole plant.
Action and indigenous use of the plant: The plant is acrid, bitter,
thermogenic, expectorant, revulsive, carminative, digestive, stomach ache, laxative,
anodyne, anthelmintic, diuretic, linthontriptic, sudorific, demulcent, haematinic
and anti-inflammatory. It is useful in cough, asthma, bronchitis, dyspepsia,
flatulence, colic, painful inflammations, dropsy, opthalmopathy, vomiting, leprosy,
skin diseases, pruritus, strangury, renal and vesical calculi, cardiac disorders,
anaemia and general debility.
Modern use as patented: There are patents granted by the USPTO in which
the plant appears as one of the constituents of the prepared drug and these
include:
US Patent 6,080,40: Enhancement of the curative action of the drugs
US Patent 5,609,873: Preparation of cosmetics
There are also Japanese patents on the use of the plant in (a) formulations
prepared to increase the shelf-life of perishables such as vegetables, fish and
shells and (b) a composition used as a food preserving agent.
Some Chinese patents have been granted for the use of the plant (a) as a
component of a mixture that is used for relieving the effects of radiation therapy
given for nasopharyngeal cancer and also (b) a component of a medicine that is
used for curing swelling resulting from soft tissue injury and (c) a drug component
that promotes blood circulation.