US patent for Prof’s Ayurvedic drug

Lucknow: A professor from the famous Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has secured a US patent for his ayurvedic medicine that claims to slow down the ageing process, works in prevention and management of senile dementia and age-related neurodegenerative changes. A Chennai-based firm is all set to start commercial production of the medicine.

Prof. G.P. Dubey, professor emeritus of the faculty of ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS)-BHU, who has obtained the patent on products prepared out of three medicinal plants — Bacopa monnieri, Dioscorea bulbifera, and Hippophae rhamnoides — said that the medicine would be affordable for the common man.

The professor told reporters in Varanasi that global attention is gradually shifting to traditional forms of medicine to meet the health care needs of the general population and India has a rich tradition in the ayurveda, Siddha and Unani systems of medicine.

He said that several multinational companies were trying to exploit the rich national heritage by patenting Indian knowledge.

“The Chinese government has promoted Chinese traditional medicine and succeeded in obtaining approvals from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA),” he said.

The professor disclosed that Arvind Remedies Limited, a Chennai-based company, has entered into an agreement with the BHU for exporting the drug and the company will pay royalty to the BHU and other collaborative organisations.

The University Grants Commission, the department of Ayush and the department of science and technology, government of India, have provided substantial financial support to bring the drug into the market.

“BHU vice-chancellor Lalji Singh helped me get support from the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Genome Founda-tion, Hyderabad.

The BHU vice-chancellor had also paved way for good laboratory practice (GLP) compliance lab, molecular biology lab, and also a sophisticated molecular biology lab at the IMS-BHU, where both modern and ayurveda faculties could utilise central facilities,” he said.

Prof. Dubey said that China has patented many medicinal plants of Indian origin which was a matter of concern.
“Though the ayurvedic system of medicine is richer than any other system, it could not be promoted globally,” he said.