Plants and plant extracts have long been acknowledged as valuable resources for the development of therapeutic formulations for various diseases. Among them, numerous plants and plant-derived products have demonstrated cytotoxic and/or anti-tumor properties. Saffron, particularly due to its major compounds, namely crocin, crocetin, and safranal, stands out as a promising candidate in this regard. Our research undertakes a literature review, reaffirming the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and, notably, anti-tumor properties of saffron and its major constituents. Additionally, this study examines relevant patent documents, highlighting innovative applications for saffron and its major compounds in cancer therapy. The review discusses the progress in purifying the compounds extracted from saffron and assesses their impact on cytotoxic trial outcomes, the potential synergies between certain saffron compounds and established cytotoxic molecules, and the limitations of the patents examined, particularly concerning reported clinical evidence. Researchers who focus on advances in oncology will know from our findings the evolution of the patent landscape regarding cytotoxic and/or anti-tumor therapeutic applications using saffron or its main compounds. Moreover, investigators can draw inspiration from patents leveraging traditional knowledge, particularly from Chinese medicine, to clarify specific active molecules and their mechanisms of action and can expedite the translation of these findings into clinically relevant interventions, potentially enhancing cancer therapy outcomes.

We reviewed the patentability of rosemary-derived drugs and bioactive compounds over the last 20 years and analyzed patent documents related to the rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis Linné) plant using patent analysis techniques. A total of 12,320 patent documents (patent applications and granted patents) were identified, with China having the highest number of patent documents at 4384. The year 2017 had the most patent documents (1122). Patent classification codes indicate that most inventions are for medicinal preparations and cosmetics characterized by their composition. Further, expert driving forces and knowledge clusters showed that research and development has focused on methods to bring pharmaceutical products into specific physical or administering forms, which are described in the majority of patents. To demonstrate the innovation trends in rosemary-derived drugs and bioactive compounds, a selection of relevant patent documents, with publication dates between 2002 and 2022, is described at the end of the study. This selection contains a total of 13 patent documents, including six patent applications and seven granted patents, and deals with pharmaceutical and biomedical applications, processes for extracting rosemary-derived biomolecules (e.g., rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, and carnosol), and cosmetic and food applications.

Food additives are substances of natural origin or obtained by chemical synthesis. Among these additives, food antioxidants play an essential role in preserving food quality by neutralizing free radicals and inhibiting oxidation reactions, which helps prevent food spoilage and maintain its freshness, taste, and nutritional value. In addition, dietary antioxidants may also be beneficial to health. This is particularly the perception that consumers have in relation to antioxidants of natural origin, such as plant extracts. In this paper, we focused on the case of rosemary extract as a food additive which is authorized in many countries, including the United States and Europe, under the code E392. Through the examination of patent documents available in specialized databases and using appropriate keywords, our research made it possible to go back in time to first show the uses of rosemary extract and then specify the exploitation of rosemary extract in the field of food. We selected 411 relevant documents (granted patents and patent applications), almost 40% of which were filed in China. The first patent found was published in 1984, and it concerned a method to obtain a highly effective antioxidant from rosemary suitable for preventing the oxidation of food. This patent was followed by others which claimed, among others, more effective methods of making rosemary extract. More recently, innovations have focused on the synergistic effect of rosemary extract with other compounds, particularly for the antimicrobial action of food preservation.

The microbiota, comprising all the microorganisms within the body, plays a critical role in maintaining good health. Dysbiosis represents a condition resulting from an imbalance or alteration of the microbiota. This study comprehensively investigates the patent literature on dysbiosis over the past 20 years.

Aim: This research concerns the patentability of carvacrol; it could be helpful for researchers to easily identify any innovation in the biotechnological application of this monoterpene as well as other similar compounds. Background: Like thyme or oregano, several plants in the Lamiaceae family produce carvacrol. It is one of the secondary metabolites with several biological activities, including the improvement in plants’ resistance and their protection. Carvacrol has many chemical properties, such as antioxidant and anti-microbial, which have made it interesting for multiple biotechnological applications in the fields of food, feed, pharmacology, and cosmetology. Objective: We have made an attempt to demonstrate the value of carvacrol, first by studying quantitative data from patent documents, and then, through some relevant patents, we have tried to highlight the various fields of innovation related to the properties of carvacrol. Methods: For the study, we have collected and sorted patent documents (i.e., patent applications and granted patents) from specialized patent databases, using “carvacrol” and some of its synonyms as keywords. The selected documents have included these keywords in their titles, abstracts, or claims. Then, thanks to patent analysis, we have tried to provide an overview of the useful properties of organic compounds. Results: We have shown that about 90% of the patent documents studied have been published in the 2000s. The number of publications, which is constantly increasing, demonstrates the growing interest in carvacrol. Although the applications of carvacrol are varied, the data on the IPC classification show that most published innovations are concerned with formulations in the fields of health, food, and feed. The study of the most relevant patents has allowed us to highlight some developments in the extraction and synthesis of carvacrol and some examples of patents that illustrate the wide possibilities offered by the exploitation of carvacrol. Thus, we have discussed its use in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, food, and agricultural fields. Conclusion: Carvacrol is a natural compound with beneficial properties. Several applications using this monoterpene have already been patented in different fields. However, the evolution of patentability has grown this past year and revealed the potential of carvacrol in biotechnology.

This study aims to analyze the patent documents concerning the uses of medicinally active plants (MAPs) in relation to COVID-19 during the last four years. Hereinafter, we demonstrate that MAPs, such as those in the Lamiaceae family, can be a fast, healthy, and efficient recourse for designing new drugs or compositions to face new health challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The patent documents concerning sage (Salvia), basil (Ocimum), lavender (Lavandula), and marjoram (Origanum) were searched through different specialized databases by using relevant keywords, and the search was performed on the titles, abstracts, and claims. The state of the art in the field was established by extracting data related to publication dates, patent families, patent classifications, applicants, and jurisdictions from the patent documents. Since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, about a hundred patent documents linking the studied plants to the coronavirus have been found. Through our case study, we found that most of the patent applications were filed under international jurisdiction by pharmaceutical companies as applicants. Based on the patent classification, most of the claimed inventions are indeed medicinal preparations characterized by being made with Lamiaceae or having antiviral activities. Finally, the relevant patent documents demonstrate a particular interest in the valorization of bioactive compounds derived from Lamiaceae to improve human defense mechanisms as well as compositions or methods for treating and preventing a coronavirus infection. However, the Salvia genus is the most useful for preventing and/or curing SARS-CoV-2 infection.