우울증에 대한 천연물 추출물 국내 특허 동향 분석

Objectives: To analyze the trend of Korean patents of natural product extracts for depression. This study also aimed to enhance the development and application of natural product extracts for depression in Korean herbal medicine. Methods: We searched the Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service and Science ON to collect Korean patent data of natural product extracts for depression. Two authors independently screened and assessed full texts of screened patents for eligibility. Included patents were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Results: A total of 62 patents from 2002 to December 2021 were included for analysis. The number of patents has constantly increased since 2002. Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer, Perilla frutescens Britton var. acuta Kudo, Zizyphus jujuba Miller var. inermis Rehder were frequently used among 62 patents. Alcohol extraction was mostly used, followed by water extraction and ethyl extraction regarding extract methods. Eight patents were herbal medicine used for treating depression in Korean Medicine. Conclusions: Various Korean herbal medicine and minerals were used as natural-products for treating depression. These results provide fundamental data that can be used for inventing new patents using Korean herbal medicine, developing new natural product extracts for depression, and extending the range of application of these products in clinical setting.