India patents Jamun extract in US for treatment of daibetes

New Delhi, Apr 27 (UNI) India has got a US patent for an active hypoglycemic compound isolated from the pulp of black plum fruit (Jamun) which could play a crucial role in reducing blood sugar and cholesterol level thereby proving effective in treatment of Diabetes mellitus esepcially those associated with heart disease, Parliament was informed today.

Minister of State for Health Panabaka Lakshmi said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha that application for the Indian patent for this product has been filed and toxicological studies have been carried out.

She said that under a project funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research, the University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi has succeeded in isolating an active hypoglycemic compounds from the pulp of 'Jamun.' The four compounds isolated from the pulp when tested in animals have been found to reduce blood sugar.

However, it can be made available for treatment only after proving the safety and efficacy of the compounds in clinical trials and technology transfer, she added.

In another reply, she admitted that an Ayurvedic formulation, which was tested as mouth wash in patients undergoing radiation for oral cancer was found to give relief to pain caused by swelling of gums and cheeks due to inflammation resulting from radiation.

She said that the clinical trial was collaborative study between Regional Cancer Centre and Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology in Thiruvananthpuram, Kerala and was funded by Department of AYUSH.

Howvever, the formulation needed to be standardised before it was commercialised, she added.

UNI