Popular name: Neem
Scientific name: Azadirachta indica
Ayurvedic usage: Diarrhoea, fever inflammation,jaundice, wounds,leprosy, snakebite, piles.
Patents: 65,mostly by American,Japanese and European firms.Disputed by India in USCourts.
Popular name: Neem
Scientific name: Azadirachta indica
Ayurvedic usage: Diarrhoea, fever inflammation,jaundice, wounds,leprosy, snakebite, piles.
Patents: 65,mostly by American,Japanese and European firms.Disputed by India in USCourts.
Popular name: Bhu Amla
Scientific name: Phyllanthus niruri
Ayurvedic usage: Cough, asthma,inflammation,fever, wounds,urinary infections,jaundice,ulcers,sores, dysentery
US patent: Four.Two by Fox Chase Cancer Center, US,one of them for treatingjaundice.
Popular name: Karela
Scientific name: Momordica charantia
Ayurvedic usage: Constipation,worms, urinary infection, vomiting,acidity,arthritis,migraine ,burning soles,psoriasis.
US patents: Two. One by New York University for treatment of tumours, HIV infections.
Popular name: Sharifa
Scientific name: Annona squamosa
Ayurvedic usage: Inflammation, constipation, urinary infection,infertility.
Patents: Two assigned to Bayer of Germany, one to Perdue Research Foundation, US,forproperties known to Ayurveda
Popular name: Haldi
Scientific name: Curcuma longa
Ayurvedic usage: Improves complexion, relieves itching, cures anaemia,dyspepsia.
US patents: Six so far for similar medicinal properties. One on wound-healing wasrevoked last year after CSIR challenged it.
Popular name: Angoor
Scientific name: Vitis vinifera
Ayurvedic usage:Anaemia, constipation,general weakness, jaundice, asthma,gout,alcoholism, fever, cough.
US patents: Nine.At least four of them on properties systematically studied inAyurveda.
Popular name: Indian Mustard
Scientific name: Brassica campestris
Ayurvedic usage: Impetigo, haemorrhage,mental disorder, rheumatism, stiffneck,influenza.
US patents: Fourteen.By big companies like Calgene,US, and Rhone-Poulenc,France.
Popular name: Kathal
Scientific name: Artocarpus integrifolia
Ayurvedic usage: Inflammation,wound healing, constipation, urtecaria, skin diseases.
US Patents: Three. Two to Medical College of Ohio. Based on properties known toAyurveda.
Popular name: Adarak
Scientific name: Zingiber officinale
Ayurvedic usage: Asthma, constipation,cough, pain, inflammation, respiratorydiseases,arthritis, nausea, ear-pain.
US patents: Four.Two on snoring and one on its anti-inflammatory properties.
Popular name: Kala Jeera
Scientific name: Cuminum cyminum
Ayurvedic usage: appetiser, digestive, diarrhoea, vomiting,analgesic, urinaryinfection.
US patents: Two.Both by Rajko Medenica of US, for its immunity- enhancing properties.