Who among the following challenged the patent right granted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for 'use of turmeric in wound healing' ?

The correct option is Dr. R.A. Mashelkar.

Background on the Turmeric Patent Case:
In 1995, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted a patent (U.S. Patent No. 5,401,504) to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for the "use of turmeric in wound healing". This patent claimed the exclusive right to use turmeric powder for treating wounds.

The Challenge and Intervention:
The grant of this patent sparked concern in India, as the healing properties of turmeric (known as Haldi) have been part of traditional Indian medicine and household knowledge for thousands of years, documented in ancient texts like the Ayurveda.
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India's premier industrial research and development organization, decided to challenge the patent on the grounds of "prior art" (proof that the technology or knowledge was already publicly known before the patent was filed). This challenge was spearheaded under the leadership of Dr. R.A. Mashelkar, who was the Director General of CSIR at the time.

Outcome:
Dr. R.A. Mashelkar and his team submitted authoritative documentary evidence to the USPTO, including ancient Sanskrit texts and local publications, which established that the use of turmeric for healing wounds was not a novel invention. Accepting the evidence of prior art, the USPTO revoked the patent in 1997. This landmark victory led by Dr. R.A. Mashelkar became a historic case in the fight against biopiracy and helped protect traditional knowledge worldwide.