Analysis of Patents as a Tool to Characterize Medicinal Plants: A Case Study with the Asteraceae Family

Abstract

Introduction/Objective: Medicinal plants constitute a major reservoir of biologically active compounds with applications in medicine, nutrition, and biotechnology. Among them, the family Asteraceae— comprising nearly 23,000 species worldwide—represents one of the most diverse botanical groups with significant ethnopharmacological value. Numerous species are traditionally used for therapeutic purposes and increasingly exploited in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Patent systems play a central role in documenting technological progress and protecting intellectual property in this domain. The present study aims to analyze the evolution and technological dynamics of innovations related to medicinal plants of the Asteraceae family through a comprehensive patent landscape assessment spanning 2000–2025. Methods: A systematic patent landscape analysis was conducted on November 1, 2025, using The Lens database (https://www.lens.org). Targeted keyword strategies related to the Asteraceae family and selected medicinal species were used to retrieve patent records, with searches restricted to the title, abstract, and claims fields. Publication date and document type filters were applied to improve search precision and ensure reproducibility. The final dataset comprised 130,605 patent documents (103,676 simple patent families), including patent applications, granted patents, plant patents, amended applications, and patents of addition, published between January 1, 2000 and November 1, 2025. The dataset was analyzed by International Patent Classification (IPC) codes, geographical jurisdictions, leading applicants, application domains, and temporal trends in patent activity. Results: Patent activity demonstrated a steady growth from the early 2000s, reaching a maximum in 2016 with 11,499 documents, followed by a gradual decline after 2020. Therefore, the observed decrease during 2023-2025 is likely attributable, at least in part, to publication lag rather than to a true reduction in research and development or patenting efforts. Geographically, China dominated the innovation landscape, accounting for 61,494 patent documents, highlighting its strong investment in plant-based biotechnology. The most frequent IPC classifications were associated with genetic engineering, cosmetic formulations, and nutraceutical compositions. The analyzed patents reveal extensive technological diversity. Agricultural innovations include genetic improvement of sunflower cultivars for early flowering, development of disease- resistant lettuce varieties, and the development of high-performance ornamental cultivars, such as Zinnia elegans. Concurrently, phytopharmaceutical developments involve bioactive extracts from species, such as Cynara scolymus with hypoglycemic activity, Smallanthus sonchifolius for diabetes management, Stevia rebaudiana for noncaloric sweeteners, Tanacetum vulgare in anti-aging formulations, and Echinacea purpurea for immunostimulatory preparations. discussion: The analyzed patents showcase diverse innovations across horticulture and phytopharmacy. Agricultural developments range from the genetic improvement of sunflowers for early flowering to the creation of disease-resistant lettuce and high-performance Zinnia elegans varieties. Simultaneously, significant advances are evident in botanical extracts, including artichoke with hypoglycemic activity, Smallanthus sonchifolius for diabetes management, Stevia rebaudiana-based sweeteners, Tanacetum vulgare for anti-aging, and standardized Echinacea purpurea for immunostimulation. These results highlight the multifunctionality of Asteraceae species and their strategic role in biotechnology, cosmetics, and functional foods. Discussion: The patent landscape highlights the multifunctional potential of Asteraceae species across several industrial sectors. Innovations span agricultural biotechnology, functional foods, phytotherapy, and cosmetic formulations. The coexistence of traditional botanical knowledge with modern biotechnological approaches demonstrates a strong convergence between ethnopharmacology and industrial innovation. However, challenges remain regarding regulatory approval, sustainable resource management, and efficient technology transfer from research institutions to commercial applications. Conclusion: Patent analysis provides valuable insights into technological trajectories and innovation dynamics within plant-based industries. The results confirm the strategic importance of Asteraceae species as versatile bioresources for biotechnology, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceutical development. Despite strong global innovation momentum, further efforts are required to ensure sustainable exploitation, regulatory compliance, and effective valorization of plant biodiversity. Consequently, patent landscape studies represent a powerful analytical tool for guiding research priorities and promoting responsible innovation in medicinal plant research.