Recent advances in pest-repellents based on the Lamiaceae family’s plants: a patent analysis overview

The development of natural and eco-friendly repellents, specifically those derived from plants, has particular relevance because these plant-based repellents offer a promising alternative to chemical-based repellents. Also, plant-derived repellents could be cost-effective and safer for non-target organisms. However, the pure form of plant extracts could be hazardous as a repellent. Thus, safe concentrations and convenient delivery forms are essential. The plants of the Lamiaceae family have shown great potential in the formulation of this type of repellent against a wide range of pests, especially thanks to the properties of the components of their extracts and essential oils. This research aims to identify recent innovations in the field of plant-based repellents of the Lamiaceae family, founded on patent documents. Therefore, patent databases were searched, using appropriate keywords and refining the search using patent classification codes. We reviewed 72 patent documents, grouped into 52 simple families, published over the last ten years. The United States is the jurisdiction in which 64% of those documents were filed. The year 2019 showed the publication of the largest number of patent documents, with ten patent applications and four granted patents. We conclude that, in parallel with research in this field, which continues to advance, many innovative solutions that take advantage of the natural repellent properties of plants in the Lamiaceae family contribute to ongoing sustainable and ecological pest management efforts.