류마티스 관절염 관련 천연물 추출물의 특허 동향 분석

Objectives This study aims to analyze the recent trends in Korean patents related to natural extract-based compositions for the treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis(RA), focusing on formulation components, extraction methods, and pharmacological classifications. Methods A comprehensive search was conducted on the KIPRIS and Science ON pat- ent databases as of April 16, 2025. Patents were included if they were filed in Korea, described compositions based on natural extracts, and were explicitly related to RA treatment. Exclusion criteria included non-therapeutic applications, single-compound isolates, fermentation-based technologies, and patents without extraction method descriptions. Eligible patents were reviewed to extract data on applicants, ex- perimental models, herbal components, extraction techniques, and IPC classifications. Results A total of 42 patents met the inclusion criteria. Alcohol extraction was the most frequently used method (40%), followed by hot water extraction (20%) and ul- trasound-assisted methods. Combination extraction techniques were observed in 33.3% of patents. Among 88 natural substances identified, Scutellariae Radix and Achyranthis Radix were the most frequently used. Only one patent included a tradi- tional herbal prescription, Gamibangkeehwangkee-tang(jiāwèifángjǐhuángqítāng). In IPC classification, A61P 19/02 (anti-arthritic agents) and A61P 29/00 (anti-in- flammatory agents) were the most common codes, appearing in 67.6% and 50.0% of patents, respectively. Conclusions The study demonstrates that Korean natural product-based RA pat- ents predominantly employ ethanol and combination extraction methods, focusing on immunomodulatory herbal components. These trends suggest an evolving strategy that bridges traditional knowledge with modern pharmacological targeting, high- lighting the potential for standardized herbal drug development in RA therapy.