Extraction methods applied to natural Lamiaceae-derived compounds: an overview based on patents

Secondary metabolites of plants are of major interest for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food applications. The extraction methods for these compounds must be optimized to have the best possible yield without altering the effectiveness of the targeted compounds. In this paper, we examine the methods of extraction of plant compounds, especially those applied to plants of the Lamiaceae family, renowned for their aromatic and medicinal roles. To do so, we consulted databases specialized in patent documentation, using appropriate keywords with the help of International Patent Classification (IPC) codes. Our results present the analysis of the 138 relevant documents selected. The first patent relating to our field of study was granted in the United States in 1998. It concerned a process for obtaining antioxidants from plant materials. While the year 2020 saw the registration of the largest number of these documents (15). Most of the documents identified (66) were filed in China. The French company Naturex, which specializes in plant-based products, is the number one depositor in the field of plant extraction. The relevant patents selected describe processes using various extraction methods and agents, most of which are valid for many plants, while some focus on genera of Lamiaceae, such as Lavandula, Rabdosia, Salvia, or Clerodendranthus