Plants as Intellectual Property: Patently Wrong?
Since ancient times, Mother Nature has been a fertile source for drugs used to treat human diseases. One such remedy is the spice turmeric, specifically known for its naturally-yellow compound, curcumin, which has been used for at least 2,500 years. In light of the long and established experience with curcumin as a foodstuff and safe, […] Ref. Source 9p
Individual plants should not be patented but I think if you are the finder of an elixir from a process then you could patent the process. For instance how to cut, clean and extract something from a plant and then use in combination with other things to make something unique that no one else has done before.