BIOPIRACY Imitations Not Innovations - Biopirateria

Biopiracy: Imitations Not Innovations 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