Unlocking the potential of pulegone biomolecule: Innovation trends and insights from patent landscape analysis and review

Pulegone, a natural biomolecule found in the essential oils of many Lamiaceae family plants, is notable for its minty aroma and therapeutic potential, despite its recognized toxicity. This study examines trends in pulegone applications by analyzing patents. Analyzing patent trends in this space can shed light on emerging opportunities and innovation hotspots. Results show the United States as the leading jurisdiction with 46.15% of patents, likely due to its large pharmaceutical and consumer items industries, as well as a sound patent system. Three major innovation areas are highlighted: daily-use cleaning, health, and hygiene products leveraging pulegone's aroma (127 patents); plant protection products utilizing their pesticidal properties (62 patents); and pharmacological and recreational uses with cannabinoids (43 patents). Pulegone's versatility spans perfumes, body care, odor neutralization, and natural pest repellents. The review of 9 recent patents as key trending areas reveals that pulegone has diverse applications ranging from flavors and fragrances to potential medicinal uses. Emerging trends are focused on the combination of pulegone with other natural compounds for synergistic effects, microen-capsulation and controlled-release formulations, biosynthetic production routes using engineered microorganisms, and exploration of pulegone's potential in agricultural applications like biopesticides. The last parts of this study present a critical analysis of key patents related to the pulegone biomolecule, focusing on their impact, strategies to address major challenges, and identifying limitations and gaps. A detailed examination of patents highlights their influence on advancing pulegone's applications, from medicinal formulations to industrial uses. However, several challenges persist, including toxicity and safety concerns, regulatory barriers and issues related to stability and scalability in production. Furthermore, future directions for innovation include the development of toxicity mitigation strategies, alignment with regulatory frameworks and bioprospecting ethics and exploring sustainable production methods.