BIOPIRACY Imitations Not Innovations - Biopirateria

54 Biopiracy: Imitations Not Innovations
18. PIPER NIGRUM
Other names: Kalimirch and Golmirich in Hindi,
Golmorich in Bengali, Mire in Marathi, Kalamari in
Gujarati, Milagu in Tamil, Miriyala tige in Telugu,
Black pepper in English.
Description and location of the plant: A robust
woody climber, with large woody ovate or round
leaves, flowers on spike and globose immature fruit,
much wrinkled and brown black in colour. It is
cultivated in the states of Karnataka and Kerala in
India.
Part/s used: Fruits.
Action and indigenous use of the plant: The fruits are acrid, bitter,
anthelmintic, carminative, alterant, aphrodisiac, alexeteric, antiperiodic,
deobstruant, diuretic, digestive, emmenagogue, rubefacient and ache. They are
useful in arthritis, pharyngodynia, asthma, fever, cough, catarrh, dysentery,
dyspepsia, flatulence, hiccough, haemorrhoids, urethrorrhea and dermatopathy.
As a constituent of pipla it is used to increase the availability of certain
administered drugs. It is also a important constituent of the dry condiments
used in Indian cuisine.
Modern use in the patent: The patents granted by the USPTO related to
the plant include:
US Patent 6,346,539: Treatment of skin conditions.
US Patent 6,264,926: Formulation useful as a natural herbal tooth powder.
US Patent 6,224,871: Dietary supplement for nutritionally promoting
healthy joint function.
US Patent 6,203,839: Flavorant compositions.
US Patent 6,159,474: Animal repellent containing oils of black pepper and/
or capsicum.
US Patent 6,121,234: Use of essential oils to increase bio-availability of