M/s Livzon Pharmaceutical Group Inc, Guangdong, 519020, China filed a patent application No: EP1849473 titled “Chinese traditional medicine composition for treatment of avian influenza, method for preparation, and application thereof” on 19-01-2007. On 25-02-2010 European Patent Office (EPO) after examination conveyed their intention to grant the patent to M/s Livzon. On 27-04-2010 Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), unit jointly set up by the Department of AYUSH and CSIR made a submission to EPO on the basis of available prior art references from Ayurveda & Unani text books the details of 4 medicinal formulations where Pudina & Kalamegha have been used for the treatment of Influenza, epidemic fever, stating that these uses have been known for hundreds of years in the Ayurveda & Unani systems of medicine.

A team of examiners in EPO considered the evidences on pre-existing knowledge of Ayurveda & Unani on 10-06-2010 and decided to cancel their earlier intention to grant the patent to M/s Livzon. The EPO thus upheld the Indian claim that the medicinal properties of Pudina and Kalamegha were known to Indian Traditional Medical System in particular for treatment of Influenza and epidemic fever etc.

This information was given by Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Shri S. Gandhiselvan in written reply to a question raised in Lok Sabha

KALAMEGHA (Andrographis paniculata) : Kalamegha in local language is called as Pale Kirait, which many a times is confused with another local name kade chirait – an entirely defferent plant, botanically named as Swertia chirata, from Gentianaceae family; known as kiratatikta in Sanskrit. Kalamegha has few synonyms in Ayurvedic texts like yavatikta and kalpanatha. It is categorized as bhedaniya – accumulation breaking herb.

Kalamegha grows throughout India in moist and shaded places, in the plains. It is an annual herb cultivated to some extent in Assam and Bengal. It grows to a height 0.5-1 meter, with quadrangular branches. The leaves are green, lanceolate, 3-7 cm long and 1-2 cm broad. The venation of leaf is unicostate, reticulate and mid-rib is centrally grooved. The flowers are arranged in axillary and terminal racemes, which are 7.5-10 cm in length. The fruits are linear capsules with numerous seeds. The plant flowers in the months from September to December.

The botanical name of kalamegha is Andrographis paniculata and it belongs to family Acanthaceae.

Properties

Kalamegha is bitter in taste, pungent in the post digestive effect and has hot potency. It alleviates kapha and pitta doshas. It possesses light and dry attributes. It is an appetizer, liver stimulant, vermicidal and cholegogue in properties. It is used as a bitter tonic in convalescence. In many liver preparations, kalamegha is one of the commonly incorporated ingredients, available in the market.

Uses

The whole plant is used for medicinal purpose. At the end of the rainy season and before winter, the plant is collected and dried in shade, before use. The plant is used as an house hold remedy since many centuries. It is seldom used externally. Internally, the juice of the leaves with cardamom, cloves and cinnamon is used in infants for the bowel complaints and loss of appetite. The plant is also used against chronic malaria. In children, it is used in abdominal pain, diarrhea and dyspepsia, associated with fever. The combination of kalamegha, nadihingu, vaca, hingu (Asofoetida) and trikatu, (sunthi, marica and pippal ) works well in such ailments. The juice of the leaves, combined with ela and tvak works well to stimulate the appetite and improve digestion. The properties of kalamegha like an appetizer, liver stimulant, cholegouge, purgative and vermicide are useful in the treatment of diseases like anorexia, hepatitis, worm infestations, flatulence and the enlargement of liver and spleen As a blood purifier, it is extremely beneficial in various skin diseases. In malaria, it is given along with marica, for better results.

LOCAL NAME:-PUDINA

This plant is related to the menthe genus and its aromatic herbs. Many more species grows wild; some of there cultivated. The chief constituent for which these plants are valued are menthol and pappermint oil. this medicinal plant is an erect branched herb upto about 55 cm high. Leaves upto 6 cm long. Flowers small, in small brunches, borne on axile leaves,medicinal seeds are also very useful.