Technological Forecasting of Traditional Knowledge Associated with Babassu

Abstract

Babassu is a native palm tree from Brazil traditionally used by Indigenous Peoples (IP) and Traditional Communities (TC), in order to produce medicines applied in different treatments. Some of these medicinal applications have been scientifically analyzed in order to prove their pharmacological potentialities and have also been an object of interest for the protection of Intellectual Property Rights. The objective of this work was to carry out the technological forecasting of traditional knowledge associated with babassu related to the treatments applied by traditional medicine and to analyze the indicators connected with to the protection of Intellectual Property Rights. Initially, we conducted a survey of ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological studies, presenting applications of babassu performed by traditional medicine. Subsequently, we presented a literature review, focused on analyzing the effects of babassu according to the practices of traditional medicine. Finally, we analyzed the records of filed patents made in World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), European Patent Office (EPO) and Latin American Base of the European Patent Office (LATIPAT) in relation to previously identified Traditional Knowledge Associated (TKA). There were different types of babassu applications used by traditional medicine, according to the results of the ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological studies carried out in Brazil. The applications that stood out were related to anti-inflammatory and cicatrizant treatments. Most of the pharmacological research that focused on proving the medicinal potential associated with the use of babassu, analyzed applications in anti-inflammatory and cicatrizant treatments, which mostly demonstrated these potentialities. It was verified that the interests for the protection of Intellectual Property Rights of the TKA with babassu, and the anti-inflammatory and cicatrizant treatments, presented a growth. This study contributes with positive evidence for the medicinal and cosmetic potentialities of babassu presented by traditional medicine. However, it also shows that holders of TKA have not been involved in the processes of protection of Intellectual Property Rights of inventions that apply TKA with babassu. In view of the related conflicts, it is suggested that TKA be valued in management and conservation practices.