46 Biopiracy: <strong>Imitations</strong> <strong>Not</strong> <strong>Innovations</strong> 13. MOMORDICA SPP. Other name: Bird droppings gourd in Thai. Description of the plant and its location: It is a small-sized bitter gourd found in Thailand. Piracy: A research conducted by the Thai scientists on a native strain of Thai bitter gourd led to compounds that work against AIDS. American scientists copied their work and also got it patented.
Biopiracy: <strong>Imitations</strong> <strong>Not</strong> <strong>Innovations</strong> 47 14. NIGELLA SATIVA Other names: Kalajira, Mugrela and Kalonji in Hindi, Mungrela in Bengali, Kalonji-jiram in Gujarati, Nella-jeelakaira in Telugu, Karunjiragam in Tamil, Karejirage in Kannada, Karunchiragam in Malayalam, Small fennel and Black cumin in English. Description of the plant and its location: A small, pretty herb, 30-60 cm in height. It is a native of Syria and Lebanon, but also cultivated in the states of Assam, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. The herb is also mentioned in the Hadiths (preachings of Prophet Mohammed). Part/s used: Seeds. Action and Indigenous use of the plant: The seeds of the plant are acrid, bitter, thermogenic, aromatic, carminative, diuretic, emmenagogue, anodyne, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, deodorant, appetising, digestive, anthelmintic, constipating, sudorific, febrifugal, stimulant, galactogogue and expectorant. In traditional Indian medicine, we find the plant is used in the treatment of skin diseases, haemorrhoids, cephalalgia, jaundice, inflammation, fever, cough, paralysis, ophthalmia, halitosis, anorexia, dyspepsia, flatulence, diarrhoea, dysentery, helminthiasis especially tapeworms, strangury agalactia and menstrual problems. In the black seed is the medicine for every disease except death. —An Arab saying Modern use in the patent: The patents granted and those pending relate to the medicinal use of the plant by itself or in combination with other plants or herbs in the form of pharmaceutical compositions and herbal formulations. The patents granted by the USPTO include: US Patent 6,042,834: Herbal composition for diabetes and method of treatment. US Patent 5,653,981: Pharmaceutical composition to increase the immune
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