The 32nd US patent on neem was
give to FMC Corporation of
Philadelphia. It is the corporation's
second patent titled, "Combinations of neem
seed extract and bifenthrin for control of ectoparasites on animals".
This patent, awarded on December
5, 1995, became
the eighth patent to the awarded
in the US in 1995, on neem-related
products and processes.
Earlier, the corporation had
obtained a patent for using a similar combination for controlling pyrethroid resistant mites. A computer search of all patents from
1976 to 1995, revealed that a total
of 32 neem-related patents have
been given in the US, and not 30
(Down To Earth, Vol 4, No 20).
The first neem patent, "Neern
bark extracts", was awarded (May
7, 1985) to Terumo Corporation of
Tokyo, Japah,.which also took the
second patent. But in 1991, another interesting patent, "Dentrifice",
was awarded to the Floss Products
Corporation of Morton Grove,
Illinois. It was all about a neem
product to be used for cleaning
teeth - nothing new to the
Indians.
The product can be used as a
paste, gel, powder or a rinse. It
consists micro-fibres of non-deleterious organic plant components,
specifically, branches or roots of
neem trees used for similar purposes. So, Indians better not try
selling a neem-based toothpaste in
the US!
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