January 17/Alexandria, Va./U.S. Fed News -- U.S. Patent no. 7,867,525, issued on January 11, was assigned to Bionutrigen Co. Ltd. (Taejon, South Korea).

"Powder Or Extracts of Plant Leaves with Anti-Obesity Effects and Anti-Obesity Food Comprising Them" was invented by Song-Hae Bok (Taejon, South Korea), Myung-Hee Kim (Taejon, South Korea), Eun-Eai Kim (Taejon, South Korea), Mung-Sook Choi (Taegu, South Korea), Surk-Sik Moon (Konju-si, South Korea) and Kyu-Tae Chang (Taejon, South Korea).

According to the abstract released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Disclosed are powders or extracts of plant leaves with anti-obesity effects and anti-obesity foods comprising them, and more particularly, anti-obesity food compositions comprising powders or extracts of one or more selected from group consisting of persimmon (Diospyros KakI Thunb.) leaves, buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) leaves, Chinese matrimony vine (Lycium chinense) leaves, endive (Cichorium endivia) leaves, and ginseng (Panax ginseng). Also disclosed are compositions comprising plant extracts or powders to reduce the weight of animals or humans, and more particularly, boiling water extracts of persimmon leaves, buckwheat leaves and Chinese matrimony vine leaves and persimmon leaf powder, buckwheat leaf powder and Chinese matrimony vine leaf powder were prepared and administered to animals or humans to confirm the effects of reduction of their weight and then health foods comprising the extracts or powders are produced."

The patent was filed on August 14, 2003, under Application No. 10/640,650.

For further information please visit: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=7867525&OS=7867525&RS=7867525

From the January 24, 2011, Prepared Foods E-dition