India foils UK firm's bid to patent use of turmeric, pine bark and tea

India has foiled British firm Pangaea Laboratories Limited's bid to patent the use of turmeric, pine bark and tea for treating hair loss.

An official release said that New Delhi has been successful in protecting its traditional knowledge.

Pangaea Laboratories Limited had filed a patent application at the European Patent office in February, 2011 on a medicinal composition containing turmeric, pine bark and green tea for treating hair loss.

An official release said that the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), a Unit of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research filed pre-grant opposition along with prior-art evidences.

It proved that turmeric, pine bark and green tea, are being used as a treatment for hair loss, since long in Indian systems of medicine like Ayurveda and Unani.

Till date, CSIR-TKDL has prevented about 200 firms from acquring patent rights on products grown and nurtured in India.