BIOPIRACY Imitations Not Innovations - Biopirateria

Biopiracy: Imitations Not Innovations 61
22. TERMINALIA ARJUNA
Other names: Arjuna in Hindi, Yerramaddi in
Telugu, Vellamatta in Tamil, Matta in Kannada, Arjun
in Assamese.
Description of the plant and its location: It is a
large tree with whitish bark and found almost
throughout India, chiefly near water channels, stream
banks and in moist places.
Part/s used:
Action and indigenous use of the plant: The
plant is used as a cardiac tonic, deobstruant, diuretic,
expectorant, febrifuge, haemostatic, lithnotriptic and stimulant. It is useful in
bilious affections, blood dysentery, blood pressure, earache, fever, fractures of
bone, heart diseases, inflammatory conditions, leueorrhoea, sores and as an
antidote to poisons.
Modern use in the patent: The patents granted by the USPTO include:
US Patent 6,358,208: Assessment of cardiovascular performance using
ultrasound methods and devices that interrogate interstitial fluid.
US Patent 6,162,438: Herbal compositions and their use as agents for
control of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia.
US Patent 5,411,733: Antiviral agent containing crude drug.
Derivation observed:
Indigenous use Modern use
● Cardiac tonic, heart diseases Assessment of cardiovascular performance
● Blood pressure Control of hypertension, hyperchole
sterolemia and hyperlipidemia
● Useful in bilious affections Antiviral agent