Journal of Intellectual Property Rights Vol 6 May 2001 pp 215-226

Tamarind - based Innovations: Analysis of Patents

Bharvi Dutt

National Institute of Science, Technology and Developm ent Studies D. K.5.Krishana Marg, New Delhi 110012

(Received 3 Apri1200l)

The study sUlveys the world R&D efforts on tamarind-based innovations as reflected in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and European Patent Office (EPO) free patent search databases. It enlists 62 patents found at both the databases. A majority of the patents are held by corporations. Since 1992 there is a slowing down and inconsistency in patenting activity the world over. Innovation trends during the last ten years, (rom 1992 to 2001, suggest that food and beverages, health care, and industrial applications have been t he focus of the patenting activi ty.

Tamarind (Tamarindus Indica) is a versatile tree having a multitude of uses. It is ind ige­nous to tropical Africa and probably also to some parts of South India. It is cultivated throughout the tropics and sub-tropics and has become naturalized at many places, gen­erally, cultivated or found naturalized almost throughout the plains and sub-Himalayan tracts of India, particularly in th e South 1.

Tamarind has a variety of uses in traditional an d modern medicines, food and food proc­essing industry and industrial appl ications. The salient fea tures of these uses are pre­sen ted below.

Almost every part of it fin ds some use, but the most useful is the fruit. The latter con­tains a sweetish, acid ic pulp, the tamarind of commerce, which is widely used for souring curries, sauces, chutneys and certain bever­ages; it is also employed in medicine.

The pulp contains: moisture, 20.9; protein , 3.1 ; fat, 0. 1; fibre, 5.6; other carbohydrates, 67.4; mi nerals, 2.9 %; calcium, 170; phospho­rus, 110; and iron, 10.9 mg./ l00 g. Its vitamin contents are: riboflavin , 0.07; niac in , 0.7; vi­tamin C, 3.0 mg./l00 g.; and carotene, 60 j..lg'/lOO g. Tartaric acid (8-18%) and invert sugars (30-40%) are the most important con­stituents of the pulp. Pectins and pentosans

216 J INT ELLEC PROP RlGHTS, MAY 2001

are also present. TIle pulp-pectin chemicall y resem bles apple-pectin 1.

The fruits are taken as an an tidote in canna­bis intoxication . The fruit extr~ct exhibits clastogenic (chromosome breaking) effect. The pulp is used in the Indian medicine as a refrigerant, carminative and laxative. It is also co mmonly prescribed in febril e dis­eases and bilious disorders2. It is a useful add ition to the diet of th e convalescents, especially wh en laxative action is desirable. A gargle with the infusion of tamarind is recommended for sore throat. TIle pulp is also reported to possess antiseptic proper­ties and is recommended to be applied as a poultice on inflammatory swellings 1.

In Sudan, the pulp is used as purgative, for the treatment of dysentery and in rheumatic fever. It is also used as an antimalarial and as an antifungal agent. In th e West Indies, where the tree is cultivated to a large extent, sugar replaces the salt in the preservation and preparation of the pulp for marketing. This sweet pulp is also exported to Europe, USA, and other countries, mostly fo r use in confectionery.

The pulp is also used in isolation of tartaric acid and the fermentation of the sugars for usefu l by-products like ethanol, lactic acid, and citric acid. The fruit pulp is used in the preparation of fruit juices and beverages.

The seeds, particularly the testae, are said to be astringent and are used in diarrhoea and dysentery. A poultice of the boiled seeds is applied to boils. Pounded with water, the seeds are used as an application in cough and for the relaxation of the uvula. The poly­saccharides of seeds have many properties similar to those of fruit-pectins. The seeds are good source of phosphorus, calcium, magn esium and potassium.

The seed is used in dyeing and tanning. The dyestuff is reported to give brown and olive­brown shades on wool, silk and cotto n.

Tamarind polyose obtained from th e seeds of Tamarindus Indica is used as a bi nding agent fo r insoluble powders and as an emul­sifying agent. Tamarind polyose can be used as a base for the preparation of medicated jellies. It possesses a unique property of form ing a th in film, having high tensile strength and fl exibility and can be llsed in making capsules and cachets.

Tamarind seed polysaccharide can be used as nontoxic food additive. It can also be used for making gel like blocks, which can be mixed with orange juice to make diet com­positions. Heat resistant gel, useful in ma nu­facturing je lly containing pound cakes, fruitcake, etc. is also prepared from th e poly­saccharide. In strength and transparency, the gels prepared from jellose compare fa­vourably with those obtained from th e frui t­p ectins. Th e je llose is also used in confectionery, especially in USA, and some European counb-ies.Tamarind polysaccha­rid e is an effective preservative for storage of pineapples. It also decreases the degree of rotting in the pineapples.

The ethyl acetate extract prepared from seed coat exhibits strong antioxidant activ­ity. These safe and low cost source of an ti­oxidants may be used not only for increasing th e shelf life of foods by preventing lipid peroxidation but also for protecting oxida­tive damage in living systems by scavenging active oxygen radicals.

The kernel powder, commercially known as Tamarind Kernel Powder (f. K. P.) , find s ex­tensive use as a sizing material in the textile industry. The sizing properties ofT.K.P. are due to the presence of a polysaccharide Gel­lose) to the extent of about 60%.

BHARVI DUTI: TAMARIND - BASED INNOVATIONS .. .. . 217

The bark of the tree is astringent and is given in diarrhea; in lotions and poultices, it is also applied to sores and boils. In some countries, the bark is reported to be prescribed in asthma, amenorrhoea, and as a tonic and febrifuge l

. The ash of the bark is given in colic and indigestion. Ash is also used in gargles and as mouth wash for aphthous sores.The bark contains about seven per cent tannin and is reported to be used in tanning.

An infusion of the leaves is said to be cooling and useful in bilious fever. A poultice of the fresh leaves is applied to swellings and boils, and for relieving pain, and that of the flowers in inflammatory affection of the conjunctiva. The leaves yield a reddish-yellow dye, re­ported to be used locally in colouring wool­len and silk-fabrics. The leaves and flowers are also used as auxiliaries in dyeing.

Tamarind has a wide spectrum of use. It is a potential candidate for further exploitation for a plethora of uses in medicine, food and beaverages, food preservation and process­ing, manufacturing processes and other in­dustrial applications in textile, paper, chemicals and allied areas. India being one of the chief producers of tamarind, is in a tremendous advantageous position2

•

A study~ was can-ied out earlier on tamarind­based US patents from 1978 to 1997, and Indian patents from 1974 to 1990, though this study included Indian patents, it did not deal with the innovation trends and pre­sented only a partial picture of the global efforts. It would, therefore, be pertinent to study the innovation activity based on this tree to gain an insight into the entire gamut of R&D efforts by the world scientific com­munity to supplement and update the ealrlier efforts. For this purpose the paper aims to study the tamarind-based patents in USPTO and EPO database to comprehend the scenario.

Data and Methodology

Data for the patents were searched from the United States Patent and Trademark Office4

and European Patent Office5sites with key words: Tamarind, Tamarindus or Tamarin­dus Indica.

The first page and the inside documents of the searched patents were examined to un­derstand the inventive activity and also to confirm that the searched patents were actu­ally based on tamarind and had not sllliaced in the search merely owing to the presence of the key words as a passing reference in the context.

'The search was made by exercising the op­tion "All Years", but the present analysis is focussed on the past 10 years period, i.e. from 1992 to 2001. However, Annexure1 lists all the relevant patents found in both the databases.

Patenting Activity

US Patents

The search in USPTO yielded 32 patents but the examination of the first page and inside ofthe documents ofthe each patent revealed that not all were really tamarind-based inno­vations. Some of them had surfaced owing to the presence of key words in the docu­ment. So, excluding such cases left 17 pat­ents. Search in the EPO site led to 15 US patents among others from other countries. Outofthesc 15 USpatents,10werecommon to those already searched in the USPTO. The remaining five were thus added to the list of US patents, making a total of 22 pat­ents.

Of these 22 patents (from 1978 to 2001) (data updated up to 10-4- 2001) only six figured during the period under review. Annexure 1 suggests that from 1978 to 1985 there has

218 J INTELLEC PROP RlGHTS, MAY 2001

been a regular patenting activity. Sub­sequent period is marked with a gap of 4-year period, from 1986 to 89, when there has been no patenting activity. Similarly, after 1991 and 1995 th ere is no patenting activity for three years. After a lull of three years again the interest seem to have emerged in 1999 and 2000 with 2001 yet to be over. These years indicate three, two and one pat­ents respectively. Annexure 1 lists all the 62 patents.

A study3 carried out in 1997 had reported 30 patents in USPTO. Fewer patents found now may be due to expiry of patents or their removal from the database due to their non­renewal.

OWllership of the US Patents

The ten-year period does not suggest domi­nation of any country in the US patents. Out of the six patents that figured during 1992-2001, two were held by the US companies, namely Nutrasweet Company and L:1fayette Applied Chemistry Inc., one by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India, and one each by Japan, Italy, and France. However, prior to this period the US patents scene has been dominated by the US companies, namely Merck & Co. Inc. that held 9 out of 16 patents, AMF Inc. and Gen­eral Mills Chemicals Inc. held one patent each (Annexure 1) .

During the entire period, from 1978 to 2001, the ownership of the US patents is domi­nated by the companies with the exception of CSIR, which is a research organization.

European Patents

The search in the European site led to the discovery of 102 patents. Out of these 15 were US patents, which have already been mentioned above. The examination of the

first page of the remaining 87 patents left only 40 patents to be included in this list. This resulted after excluding unrelated pat­ents, which appeared because of the mere presence of the key words in the text of the document. Also excluded were those pat­ents which surfaced in the search as new patents but were actually not new patents. These were, in fact, "Requested" patents of the already granted patents. For example, th e patents surfacing as CA 2245617, EP0892636, AU1617897 and W09728787 entitled "opthalmic solutions viscosified with tamarind seed polysaccharide" were the same as the US patent 6056950 under the same title. In fact, these denote the request for the grant of the patent in other countries and regions of the already granted patent US6056950.

These 40 patents from the European site comprised 22 Japanese, 6 Chinese, 5 Indian , 3 European, 2 Bristish, one Korean and one PCTpatent.

The Japanese patenting activity has been consistent between 1981 and 1991, but sub­sequently for three years there was no activ­ity. The absence of patenting activity is apparent during 1992-95. Table 1 indicates that there are only two patents during the period 1992-2001.

All the six Chinese patents were behveen 1995 and 1996. The European patents too were quite old and only one pertained to the year 1998. Of the two British patents avail­able one did not have any date and the other one was granted in 1993. The PCT patent was as recent as 1999 and the Korean patent pertained to the year 1989 (Table 1) .

Out of the five Indian patents none fell under the previous ten-year period which may eit! er be due to lack of innovative activity in the area or lack of coord in3tion between the

BHARVl DUlT: TAMARIND - BASED INNOVATIONS ..... 219

Table l-Year-wise tamarind-based patents in USPfO and EPO

Country 1976-91 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Total

USA 16 2 japan 20 1 China 2 India 5 Euro- 2 pean

UK 1* 1 Korea 1

PCT

Total 45 1 5

*date not available

Indian Patent Office and the European Pat­ent Office.

Ownership of the European Patents

Most of the japanese patents are held by the companies and the rest by the individuals. Two patents during this period are found to be held by japan Dotsusa and Kureha Chern Ind. Co. Ltd. During the previous period companies such as Dai Ichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co. Ltd., Dainippon Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. held more than one patent. Other com­panies were Mitsubishi Acetate KK, San Ei Chern Ind Ltd., Daicel Chern Ind. Ltd., Nip­pon Oil and Fats Co. Ltd. Other patents are held by individuals (Annexure 1).

Table 1 suggests that all the Chinese patents are in the years 1995 and 1996. Out of these only two are held by the companies, namely Lingquan Foodstuff Factory Kai, China, and Tiangcheng Food Ind. Co. Ltd ., China. The other four patents are held by individuals, Wang Rongxian , Chen Guangjin, 2hou Yong, and Chu Rucheng, all from China.

There are only three patents in EPO of which only one pertained to the year 1998

4

4

2 1 1 22

1 22

6 5

1 3

2

1

1 1

1 1 3 1 1 62

which is held by ajapanese company named Suntory Ltd, and the other two are granted in 1980 and held by the US company Merck & Co. Inc.

Of the two Bristish patents, one did not have any date and information about the patentee. The other was granted in 1993 and is owned by Reckitt & Colman Inc., USA

The PCT patent, granted in 1999, is held by Uniliver pic, UK and Uniliver NY, the Neth­erlands.

Table 1 indicates that the period 1992-94 practically witnessed no activity. Some activ­ity is visible during the years 1995 and 1996 when five and four patents respectively have been granted. The year 1999 is again marked with emergence of some interest but it seems to be unsustained in the follow­ing years. Out of the total 17 patents during the period 1992-2001, more than three fourths are held by the companies with th e exception of one research organization, i.e. CSIR, which holds one patent. Other patents are held by individuals from China.

Though the Indian patents fo und in th e European Patent Office database are out of

220 J INTELLEC PROP RIGHTS, MAY 2001

Table 2-Tamarind-based patents in USPTO and EPO - classification according to use

Use 1992 1993 1994 1995

Food & beverages

Health care

Indusrial appHcations

Insects attractant 1

Total 1

the period under investigation, it would not be out of context to mention that out of the five, three patents are held by CSIR and the others by Indian Jute Industry Research As­sociation and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (lCAR) . The latest Indian patent was obtained in 1990.

Innovation Trends

Due to overlapping demarcations it is diffi­cult to classify the patents according to the type of invention . However, here the inven­tions have been classified in accordance with the areas of use. Table 2 indicates four categories of use area, namely food and bev­erages, health care, and indusb-ial applica­tions, and in sect attractant. These inventions are briefly summarized below.

(a) Food afld Beverages

During 1992-2001, maximum (7) patents were granted in this area.

Nutrasweet Company in the US was granted a patent (US5474791) in 1995 for making beverages using tamarind extract as a re­placement for the chemicals like, phospho­ric, citric or other acids conventionally found in carbonated drinks. The resulted beverage has an increased shelf life and a flavour pro­fi le better than conventional beverages sweetened with aspartame. The innovation

3

1

1

5

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Total

3 1 7

1 1 1 1 5

1 2 4

1

4 1 1 3 1 1 17

was carried out by Zablocki Linda ,wd Pe­core Suzanne, both from the US.

In 1995, an inventor from China was granted a patent for preparing method of tamarind food and another from the same counby for preparing a beverage. In both the cases the patentees were individuals, (i) Rucheng Chu (CNl111485), whose invention relates to an improved method for using tamarind as a raw material to produce a variety offood, the special flavour of the product is stronger and the taste is more mellow, (ij) ZhouYong got the patent (CNll07313) for making a tama­rind beverage.

In 1996, Lingquan Foodsstuff Factory Kai, China, obtained a paten t (CN1120411) for a method of making a tam;u-ind based bever­age retain ing nutritive, medicinal and health care values of the tamarind fruit. In the same year Tiangcheng Food Industly Co. Ltd, China, got a patent (CN1124599) for devel­oping a process for making spiced tamarind fruit juice of different fragrance types, opti­mal colour, smell and taste. Anoth er patent (CN1123613) obtained by a Chinese inven­tor, Chen Guangjin, related to the prepara­tion of jujube tea claimed to be nub-itive tea made of tamarind fruit pulp.

Japan Dotsusa in 1997 was granted a patent OP 9023840) for developing an improved method for the preparation of tam;u-ind pu­ree.

BHARVI DUTI: TAMARlND - BASED INNOVATIONS ..... 221

(b) Health Care

The second most active area obtained five patents during the last ten-year period.

Shiseido Co. Ltd, japan, in 2001 got a US patent (6197318) for developing a composi­tion for external use. The invention relates to a composition for external use, which at­tains a variety of excellent characteristics through incorporation of xyloglucan, which is a polysaccharide originating from tama­rind beans, as an essential ingredient

In the year 2000, an Italian company, Far­migea SPA, was granted a patent (US6056950) for developing opthalmic solu­tions viscosified with tamarind seed polysac­charide. The company has requested the grant of the same patent in Canada, Austra­lia, EPO and PCTas well. The invention uses polysaccharide obtained from the seeds of Tarnarindus Indica for the preparation of optahlmic preparation for use as artificial tears, i. e. as products for replacing and sta­bilizing the natural tear fluid, particularly indicated for the treatment of dry eye syn­drome. The concentrations of tamarind seed polysaccharide, preferably employed in the production of delivery systems for opthalmic drugs, having the function of prolonging the permanence of said medicaments at their site of action, are comprised between one and four per cent by weight.

Serobiologiques Lab SA, France, in 1999 got a patent (US5876729) for the use of extracts oftlmarind seeds enriched in xyloglycans as an active agent in a cosmetic and / or phar­maceutical product for topical usage for the skin and / or other exposed parts of the body.

An invention for developing antiobestic agent containing procyanidin as the active ingredient earned a patent (EP0815857) to Suntory Ltd, japan, in the year 1998. An

extract of tamarind seed coat being rich in procyanidin, which is the active ingredient in the antiobestic agent serves a multitude of purposes like cholesterol-lowering agent, cholic acid absorption / excretion agent and facilitates the production of foods, drinks and feeds showing these effects, thus con­tributing to the amelioration or prevention of diabetics or obesity in daily life.

A japanese company named Kureha Chem Ind . Co Ltd. acquired a patent OP 7053335) in 1995 for developing a hair grower contain­ing polysaccharide of tamarind seed.

(c) Industrial Applications

CSIR in 1999 obtained a patent (US5994533) for developing a process for the recovery of tartaric acid and other products from the tamarind pulp. In the same year Uniliver pic, UK, and Uniliver NV, of the Netherlands acquired a patent (W09936469) for develop­ing a polysaccharide conjugate capable of binding cellulose. Preferred polysaccharide includes tamarind seed xyloglucan. The product is a laundry product such as fabric washing product or a fabric-conditioning product.

Wang Rongxian of China, the inventor and the applicant, in 1996 got a patent (CN 1114339) for developing a process for pre­paring tamarind seed adhesive. It is claimed to be a low cost and environmental-friendly innovation.

In 1995, Lafayette Applied Chemistry Inc., USA, obtained a patent (US 5403599) for devising a method for preparing tamarind oligosaccharide. A cellulase hydrolysate of tamarind polysaccharide is utilized as a sub­stitute for a portion of metabolizable carbo­hydrates in processed foods to prepare reduced-calorie versions of said process foods having excellent organoleptic quality.

222 J INTELLEC PROP RIGHTS, MAY 2001

(d) Illsect Attractollts

Reckitt & Colman Inc., an American com­pany, obtained a patent (GB 2262889) for an invention for attracting insects. It uses an extracts of tamarind seeds as attractants for insects, particularly cockroaches. The ex­tracts are used in cockroach traps and can be incorporated into sticky compositions which capture cockroaches or can be sepa­rately placed in the traps. Insecticides may also be incorporated.

Results and Conclusion

Sixty-two patents are found at the two sites. Of these, 17 are US paten ts found in USPTO and five are US patents in EPO. The remain­ing 45 patents are in EPO database. The data suggests that overall world R&D efforts were sustained and consistent during 1978-1990. Beyond this period the activity seems to have slowed down and is sporadic.

Most of the patents are held by companies. In case of the US patents, no country or comapny seems to dominate the scenario during the last ten years, however, during 1980-84, Merck & Co. Inc., USA dominated the scene by holding a large proportion of the to!:.:,tl patents. In case of Japanese patents as well, no company seems to be dominant but Dai Ichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co. Ltd, Japan, and Dainippon Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd . hold more than one patent. No research or­ganization other than CSIR appears to hold a patent in India during the period under review. Out of six Chinese patents four are held by individuals, all from China.

The innovation trends suggest that health care, food and food processing industry, and industrial applications have been the

areas that have attracted the attention of the world scientific community.

Out of six Chinese patents, five are in the area of food and food processing. Japanese inventors too have focussed on value addi­tion in food processing area. In the area of health care tamarind seed extract-based reaserch is being performed with a view to find use in a variety of purposes such as, antiobestic agents, delivery systems in op­thalmic drugs and compostion for external use.

In the industrial sector the focus has been on preparing adhesives, fabric washing product, etc.

Though the medicinal properties of the tamarind tree are well documented in an­cient Indian texts like Charaka Samhita6

, it was expected that the health care would be the focus of the Indian R&D efforts, how­ever, the available data indicates otherwise.

References

1. Wealth of India CD ROM Database (National Institute of Science Commu­nication, New Delhi), 2000.

2. Saha R. Patenting 'sweet & sour' tama­rind, TIFAC, Intellectual Property Rights, 5(4), 1997,3,6.

3. Tamarind related patents, TIFA C, 111-tellectual Property Rights, 3 (9) , 1997,13.

4. The United States Patent and Trade­mark Office free patent search site, http://www.uspto.gov/patft.

5. 1ne European Patent Office free patent search site, http: //ep.espacenet.com.

6. Tamarind patenting.]ournal o/Intellec­tual Property Rights, 3 (1),1998,52-53.

BHARVI DUT[: TAMARIND - BASED INNOVATIONS ..... 223

Annexure I-Tamarind-based patents in USPfO and EPO

S.No Year Pat No Title Assignee

US Patents in USPTO and EPO 1. 2001 US6197318 Composition for external use Shiseido Co Ltd,

japan 2. 2000 US6056950 Opthalmic solutions viscosified Farmigea Spa, Italy

with tamarind seed polysaccharide 3.* 1999 US 5876729 Use of extracts of tamarind seeds Serobiologiques Lab

rich in xyloglycans and cosmetics SA, France or pharmaceutical product containing such extracts

4. 1999 US5994533 Process for the recovery of tartaric CSIR, India acid and other products from tamarind pulp

5* 1995 US5474791 Beverages using tamarind extracts Nutrasweet Co. USA and method of making such beverages

6. 1995 US5403599 Method for preparing tamarind Lafayette App. oligosaccharide Chem.Inc, USA

7. 1991 US5073387 Method for preparing reduced -do-calorie foods

S. 1990 US4895938 Process for separating Shikibo Ltd, j apan polysaccharide from tamarind seed

9. 1985 US4548648 Thickening agent for paste Dainippon Pharm Co. Ltd, japan

19. 1984 US4429121 Clarified tamarind kernal powder Merck & Co. Inc. US 11 * 1983 US 4373011 Blends of algin, tamarind and a -do-

polycationic electro conductive polymer

12. 1982 US4363669 Dispersible xanthan gum blends -do-13 1982 US4333863 Water resistant texturised wall -do-

coverings 14. 1982 US4324554 Use ofTKP as an anti migrant -do-15. 1981 US4257816 Novel blend of algin, TKP and guar -do-

gum 16. 1981 US4257768 Novel blend of algin and TKP -do-17. ~981 US4246037 Novel tamarind/xanthan gum blend -do-IS. 1980 US4219362 Sag resistant portland cement -do-

composition

19* 1980 US 4233095 Method for producing improved Indian Explosives gelatine eyplosive compositions Ltd, India

Contd

224 J INTELLEC PROP RIGHTS, MAY 2001

Annexure I-Tamarind-based patents in USPTO and EPO-Col1td

20. 1979 US4144894 Reconstitutrd tobacco composition AMFlnc USA and process for manufacturing same

2l. ' 1978 US 4089646 Paper coating dyes Diamalt Aktiengesel, Germany

22* 1978 US4074043 Purification of tamarind gum Gen Mills Chem Inc, USA

Japanese patents in EPO

23 1997 jP 9023840 Production of tamarind puree japan Dotsusa 24. 1995 JP7053335 Hair grower containing Kureha Chern Ind .

polysaccharides of tamarind seed Co Ltd 25. 1991 JP3094661 Production of mixed solution of Tsunetoshi

tamarind and acer nikoense maxim Kobayashi, Japan 26. 1990 JP 2276531 Production method for tamarind Tsunetoshi

food products Kobayashi, Japan

27. 1990 JP2031662 Food and drink containing tamarind Nippon Oil & Fats Co Ltd japan

28. 1990 JP 2075602 Manufacture of carboxylmethyl Dai Ichi Kogyo ether alkali metal salt of tamarind Seiyaku Co Ltd. gum Japan

29 1990 jP 2268672 Production of tamarind beverage Tsunetoshi Kobayashi, Japan

30 1990 jP2099502 Production alkali metal salt of Dai Ichi Kogyo carboxylmethyl ether of tamarind Seiyaku Co Ltd gum japan

3l. 1989 jP 1266101 Purification of tamarind seed raw Minezaki Shokai powder KK, Novonordisk AS

32. 1989 JP 1060337 Method for imparting heat stability San Ei Chem Ind. to tamarind seed polysaccharides Ltd

33. 1988 jP63105002 Production of polysaccharide from Shikishima Boseki tamarind seed KK

34. 1986 JP61115901 Production of ester Daicel Chem Ind. carboxymethylated tamarind gum Ltd

35. 1986 JP 61028083 Tamarind size receiving Danippon Pharm hyclroxylalkyl carboxymethylation Co

36 1985 jP60009472 Utilization of hydrolyzed tamarind Akiji Kotani gum

Contd

BHARVl DUTI:TAMARlND- BASED INNOVATIONS ..... 225

Annexure 1-Tamarind-based patents in USPTO and EPO-Contd

37. 1985 JP60203601 Production of purified tamarind Mitsubishi Acetate seed component KK

38. 1985 JP 60166302 Production of carboxymethyl ether Daicel Kagaku alkali metal salt of tamarind seed Kogyo KK gum

39. 1985 JP60118152 Purification of tamarind kernel Nichiden Kagaku powder KK

40. 1984 JP59173120 Dissolving method of tamarind Sanshiyou KK seed powder

41. 1984 JP59196048 Method for dissolving powder of Sanshiyou KK tamarind seed

42. 1983 JP58165743 Preparation of purified tamarind Kojin KK gum

43. 1981 JP 56145955 Production of brown coloring Hasegawa Kanzo matter by using seed coat of tamarind seed as starting material

44. 1981 JP56047465 Industrial paste consisting of Dainippon Pharm tamarind seed powder solubilized Co Ltd in cold water

European patents in EPO

45. 1998 EP0815857 Antiobestic agent containing Sun tory Ltd, Japan procyanidin as the active ingredient

46. 1980 EPO 011951, Cold water soluble tamarind gum, Merck & Co Inc B1 process for its preparation and its USA

application in sizing textile warp

47. 1980 EPOO11434 Blend of algin and tamarind kernel -do-powder (fKP), a paper coating and a dye-bath liquor containing said blend

Chinese patents in EPO

48. 1996 CN1114339 Process for preparing tamarind- Wang Rongxian, seed adhesive China

49 1996 CN1120411 Method for leaching and puckery Lingquan Foodstuff removing of natural Fructus Factory Kai, China Tamarindi Indicae beverage

50. 1996 CN1123613 Jujube tea and its preparation Chen Guangjin , China

Contd

226 J INTELLEe PROP RIGHTS, MAY 2001

Annexure I-Tamarind-based patents in USPTO and EPO-Contd

51. 1996 CN1124599 Aromatic fl avouring Tamarindi Tiangcheng Food Indicae fruit juice and producing Ind Co Ltd China process

52. 1995 CN1107313 Sterculia nobilis beverage Zhou Yong , China

53. 1995 CN 1111485 Preparing method of tamarind food Chu Ruch eng , China Bristish patents in EPO

54. N.A. GB474651 No title (use of tamarind seed as N.A. creaming agent in latex)

55 1993 GB2262889 Method for attracting insects Reckitt & Colman Inc, USA

Indian patents in EPO

56. 1990 IN166409 A process for biomodiiication of Indian Jute Ind tamarind kernerl powder to attain Research the twin objectives of steam Association, India economy in size paste preparation and improved weaving pel-formance in jute industry

57. 1987 IN 160755 A process fo r making new CSIR, India absorbable haemostatic dressing fro m tamarind seed polyose

58. 1985 IN155779 An enzymatic process for the CSIR, India preparation of tamarind juice concentrate

59. 1978 IN 144202 A simple process for obtaining a CSIR, India good tanning material from tamarind seed testa

60. 1977 IN 143393 Process fo r desizing fabrics sized ICAR, India with tamarind kernel powder using cellulase enzyme

Other patents in EPO 61. 1989 KR8901816 Process for jelly Shaney Co Ltd,

Korea 62. 1999 W09936469 Polysaccharide conjugate capable Uniliver PLC, UK

of binding cellulose Uniliver NV, Netherland

*marked patents were found in EPQ