1. Pre-Grant Opposition under Section 25.(1) of Indian Patent Act 1970

TKDL Pre-Grant Opposition under Section 25.(1) brought to the notice of examination division the prior art references on the use of Piper nigrum (Black Pepper) and Punica granatum (Pomegranate) for the treatment of obesity from the books –Sodhalanighantauh by Sodhala (Ayurveda, Exhibit 1), Astanga Hrdaya by Vagabhata (Ayurveda, Exhibit 2) and Rasaratnakarah-Rasendra khandam by Nityanathasiddhah (Ayurveda, Exhibit 3).

2. Relevant Extract of CGPDTM Examination report

CGPDTM Patent Examiner(s) took cognizance of TKDL references. Extract of examination report at Para 1 & 3 are reproduced below.

“Objections:

Subject matter of the claimed invention lacks novelty and inventive step u/s 2(1(j)) of the Patents Act, 1970 in view of below cited documents

D1:AK/2582 ?atapu?p?dya?gh?tam
Useful in the Treatment of following Diseases : Obesity (medov?ddhi),Elephantiasis / Filariasis (?l?pada),Enlargement of liver / Chronic hepatomegaly(yak?dd?lyodara),Diseases of spleen(pl?h?vik?ra),
IPC Codes : A61K 125/00, A61K 129/00, A61K 131/00, A61K 133/00, A61K 135/00, A61K 35/20, A61K Knowledge Known Since : 200 years
Bibliography : Bhai?ajya Ratn?val? ,
Keyword(s)/Ingredient(s) : Foeniculum vulgare Mill.(madhurik?, mi?rey?) Fruit(phala), along with other ingredients

D2:AK/731 Mustak?dyamodaka?
Useful in the Treatment of following Disease:Obesity (medov?ddhi),
IPC Codes : A61K 36/899, A61K 125/00, A61K 131/00, A61K 133/00, A61K 135/00, A61K 35/20, A61K 36/00,
Knowledge Known Since : 200 years
Ingredients :Foeniculum vulgare Mill.(madhurik?, mi?rey?) Fruit(phala),Piper betle Linn.(n?gavall?, cavya bheda) Leaf(patra), Piper betle Linn.(n?gavall?, cavya bheda) Leaf(patra), Cyperus rotundus Linn. / Cyperus scariosus R. Br. / Cyperus arundinaceum Baker(mustaka, ga??ad?rv?) Stem tuber(k???akanda), along with other ingredients.

D3:AK/982 Kravy?darasa?
Useful in the Treatment of following Diseases : Obesity (medov?ddhi),Toxication due to contamination of food with bodily waste(garavi?a),Ama(?ma),Abdominal lump(gulma),Diseases of spleen(pl?h?vik?ra),Ascites(jalodara),Colic (??la),Vata-pittaja(v?tapittaja),
IPC Codes : A23C 15/00, A61K 131/00, A61K 33/00, A61K 36/00, A61K 36/38, A61K 36/67,
Knowledge Known Since : 200 years
Bibliography : Bh?rata Bhai?ajya Ratn?kara ,Ayurvedic Formulary of India ,B?hadrasar?jasundara? ,Rasendracint?ma?ai? ,Rasendras?rasa?graha?,?yurveda S?rasa?graha? ,Bhai?ajya Ratn?val? ,Rasatantras?ra? Evam Siddhaprayogasa?graha?;,
Keyword(s)/Ingredient(s) : Piper longum Linn.(pippal?),Piper longum Linn.(pippal?),Piper retrofractum Vahl Syn.: P. chaba Hunter(cavya),Plumbago zeylanica Linn.(citraka),Zingiber officinale Roscoe(?rdraka, ?u??h?),Mercury(p?rada) Purified (?uddha),Sulphur(Gandhaka) Purified (?uddha),Copper(t?mra) Calcined / Incinerated drug(Bhasma),Iron(lauha) Calcined / Incinerated drug(Bhasma),Citrus limon (Linn.) Burm.f.(jamb?ra phala, nimbu) Fruit(phala),Garcinia pedunculata Roxb. / Rheum australe D. Don Syn.: R. emodi Wall. ex Meissn.(amlavetasa) Fruit(phala),Ore-borax / Sodium biborate(?a?ka?a) Purified (?uddha),Ammonium chloride(vi?a lava?a) ,Piper nigrum Linn.(marica) Fruit(phala),Citrus limon (Linn.) Burm.f.(jamb?ra phala, nimbu Fruit(phala),

D4:AK10/113 Trikatu
Useful in the Treatment of following Diseases : Obesity (medov?ddhi),Ozaena, sinusitis(HR)(p?nasa),Leprosy and other dermatoses(ku??ha),
IPC Codes : A61K 9/14, A61P 11/02, A61P 17/00, A61P 27/14, A61P 29/00, A61P 3/04, A61P 3/06, Knowledge Known Since : 200 years
Bibliography : Yogatrangini ,
Keyword(s)/Ingredient(s) : trika?u,Zingiber officinale Roscoe(?rdraka, ?u??h?),Piper nigrum Linn.(marica),Piper longum Linn.(pippal?),

D5:RS6/951 Raga Sadhava
Useful in the Treatment of following Diseases : Obesity (medov?ddhi),
IPC Codes : A61K 131/00, A61K 135/00, A61K 36/00, A61K 36/185, A61K 36/22, A61K 36/38, A61K
Knowledge Known Since : 500 years
Bibliography : Kaiyadevanigha??au ,
Keyword(s)/Ingredient(s) : Combination of Citrus medica Linn.(b?jap?ra) Fruit(phala),Punica granatum Linn.(d??ima) Fruit(phala) along with other ingredients

D8:http://www.tkdl.res.in/tkdl/LangDefault/Ayurveda/Ayu_Cosmetics.asp
: It discloses the use of Sita(Cynodon dactylon) in Skin Care (Varnya):

Above cited documents also discloses the uses of these herbs in obesity treatment or cellutite reduction or has anti oxidant properties as discussed above thus find their uses in cosmetics in preparing creams/gels /oils for applying on different parts of the body for body firming/shaping.Present application also discloses the uses of these herbs in cellulite reduction and other advantages of these herbs as discusses above .Thus in view of known properties of the herbs in traditional knowledge a person skilled in the art can combine these herbs and claim the composition form for the known uses of these herbs. Thus in view of above discussion claims 1-7 of the present invention lacks novelty and inventive step.

Claims 1-7 falls under section 3(p) of the Patents Act, 1970 as medicinal property of all the extracts and the minerals given the composition claim are known in traditional knowledge. The invention as claimed is traditional knowledge and aggregation or duplication of known properties of traditionally known components.”

Full examination report can be referred at 662-DEL-2008.pdf

3. Outcomes of Pre-Grant Opposition & Examination Report.

As the outcome of TKDL Pre-Grant Opposition and other documents cited in examination report, the examination is under process and reply is still awaited from the Applicant R&D DEPARTMENT OF VLCC PERSONAL CARE LTD./ INDIA.