Kozhikode, Mar 12: A US-based firm has obtained process patent in piperine, a byproduct of pepper. Piperine, extracted from the fruit of pipernigrum or black pepper, is a composition widely in use in traditional systems of Indian medicine.The patent was issued to the five member-team of scientists of Sabinsa Corporation in New Jersy on July 16, 1996. But this was known only recently when Kamcor Flavours, a Kochi-based spices exporting firm, received a communication from its US counterpart that it could not import piperine as the product had already been patented in the US. The US team which comprises four scientists from Picataway, New Jersey, and another from Bangalore, has been given patent by the American Patent Office for `inventing' a new composition and method for the improvement of gastrointestinal absorption and systemic utilisation of nutrients and nutritional supplements. It is claimed that the composition comprises an abstract from the fruit of piper containing a minimum of 98 per cent of pure alcaloid piperine.
However, scientists, the Spices Board and exporters claim that piperine has been is use in India through generations. While the patent was given only for a specific end use, a deliberate attempt is on in the US to create an impression that it is for piperine, they argue.
"Though we have been using piperine and other such products for hundreds of years from now, they have not been well documented," said K V Peter, director of Indian Institute of Spices Research (ISSR). Therefore, a high level meeting convened by the Spices Board and attended by the representatives of exporters and various research institutes on Monday decided to take up the matter with the Union Government and seek revocation of the patent.
They say that traditional knowledge and published information cannot be given patent. The Spices Board, according to chairman Jayasankar, will approach a lawyer in the US to seek revocation of the patent.
In addition, the Spices Board is to start an all-out campaign among the importing community to prove its point that the patent was given only for a specific end use and not for piperine as such. A high-level committee, headed by former CSIR chief scientist A G Mathew has been formed to document all the known major varieties of spices and their applications and uses. The committee would comprise members from all the traditional medicine manufacturers, scientists and exporters.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
