Last updated: August 22, 2025
Introduction
The Russian Federation patent RU2384347, titled "Method for producing a bioactive compound with antioxidant activity", exemplifies contemporary biopharmaceutical innovation targeting natural bioactive agents. This patent, granted in 2010, primarily covers a novel preparation method involving natural plant derivatives with antioxidative properties, intended for therapeutic and health-related applications. Adequate understanding of its scope, claims, and the patent landscape surrounding it is essential for stakeholders aiming to navigate the Russian biopharmaceutical patent environment effectively.
Patent Overview
Patent Number: RU2384347
Filing Date: 29 March 2007
Grant Date: 17 May 2010
Applicants: Vavilov Institute of General Genetics (VIG), Russian Academy of Sciences
Priority: Russia, 2007
Patent Term: 20 years from the filing date, until 2027
The patent discloses a process to extract antioxidative bioactive compounds from plants, notably involving steps like solvent extraction, concentration, and purification, to produce a stable, bioavailable preparation with claimed health benefits.
Scope of the Patent
The scope of RU2384347 is delineated primarily through its claims, which define the legal boundaries and technical protections. The patent extends to:
- The method of producing the bioactive compound, involving specific extraction and purification steps.
- The composition of the resulting antioxidant-rich preparation, characterized by its content of particular phenolic compounds.
- The application of the preparation in health-related products.
The patent emphasizes both the process and product claims; however, the core inventive aspect hinges on the extraction method’s specifics, enabling the isolation of compounds with enhanced antioxidative activity.
Analysis of Claims
Claim 1 — Independent Claim
The primary claim defines a method characterized by:
- Extracting plant material (specifically, Hypericum perforatum or Chelidonium majus)
- Conducting extraction with a solvent mixture (e.g., ethanol-water)
- Concentrating the extract
- Purifying the extract via specific filtration or chromatography steps
- Ensuring the final product contains a defined concentration of phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity
Implications:
Claim 1 broadly covers the process if all steps are followed precisely. It focuses on the technical specifics, notably the plant source, solvent, and purification process, providing a protective framework for similar extraction processes involving the same plant species and methodologies.
Claim 2 and Subsequent Claims — Dependent Claims
These elaborated claims specify particular solvent ratios, purification techniques, and the chemical profile of the final preparation:
- Type and ratio of solvents (ethanol-water mixtures)
- Specific phenolic compounds content (e.g., hypericin, quercetin derivatives)
- Purification methodology variations (e.g., chromatography methods)
Impact:
Dependent claims narrow scope, protecting variants involving specific solvent ratios or purification steps, but still maintaining relevance across similar extraction techniques.
Claims on Applications
Some claims extend protection to the use of the preparation for antioxidant therapy or dietary supplements, though these are often considered auxiliary and dependent on the core method claims.
Patent Landscape in Russia for Natural Antioxidants
The Russian biopharmaceutical patent landscape exhibits significant activity surrounding plant-based antioxidants and bioactive extracts, with claims often centered on:
- Extraction techniques
- Specific plant sources
- Combinatorial formulations
Notable Trends:
- Patent clustering around Hypericum species, Chelidonium majus, Ginkgo biloba, and other medicinal herbs.
- Emphasis on extraction methods that maximize stability and bioavailability.
- Limited patenting on mere use of natural products, with stronger protections on specific methods/processes and formulations.
Within this landscape, RU2384347 occupies a strong position as it claims a detailed extraction process coupled with a specific plant source, which is a common pattern in Russian natural product patents to secure broad but specific protection rights.
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Patent
Strengths:
- Specific process steps limit easy around-the-line innovation.
- Defined chemical markers (phenolic compounds), which aid in precise infringement detection.
- Applicability to health products aligns with market trends toward natural remedies and supplements.
Weaknesses:
- Limited scope to certain plants and extraction techniques; similar methods with slight variations might infringe or avoid infringement.
- Potential prior art concerns regarding standard extraction techniques used in herbal medicine.
- Limited coverage of novel formulations beyond the extraction process, reducing potential exclusivity on final product formulations.
Legal and Commercial Implications
Patent validity appears robust given the detailed process claims and specificity, but competitors may design-around by changing extraction parameters or plant sources. The scope is sufficient to prevent direct copying but may allow for minor modifications.
In licensing and commercialization, rights holders should monitor competitors’ extraction techniques and formulations, as broad claims on the extraction methods can serve as effective barriers, provided they are rigorously enforced.
Patent lifecycle considerations:
Given the grant date of 2010, the patent expires in 2027, after which the protected technology enters the public domain, encouraging generic or alternative extraction innovations.
Conclusion
RU2384347 offers a well-defined, method-centric patent protecting a natural extract with antioxidative properties derived from specific plants. Its claims are precise, covering both process and product aspects, fitting within the Russian natural product patent landscape that emphasizes detailed extraction methodologies. Stakeholders aiming to develop similar antioxidant preparations should consider alterations to extraction steps, plant sources, or chemical profiles to avoid infringement or develop innovative derivatives.
Key Takeaways
- Targeted Claims: The patent’s focus on specific extraction steps and plant sources offers clarity but invites around-the-line innovations through process modifications.
- Landscape Position: RU2384347 fits within Russia’s broader pattern of patents on herbal extraction methods, emphasizing technical specificity.
- Legal Strategy: To navigate around the patent, firms should innovate with alternative extraction techniques, plant varieties, or formulations.
- Commercial Outlook: With expiration in 2027, this patent sets a horizon for generic and derivative development in the Russian natural antioxidants segment.
- Portfolio Management: Rights holders should enforce claims against direct infringements while considering licensing arrangements to maximize commercial benefits.
FAQs
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What are the key inventive steps in RU2384347?
The core inventive step lies in the specific extraction and purification process involving particular solvent ratios and plant sources to yield a stable antioxidant-rich preparation.
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How broad is the patent’s protection scope?
It covers specific extraction methods involving Hypericum perforatum or Chelidonium majus with defined steps, but variations in process parameters may circumvent the claims.
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Can similar antioxidant preparations be produced without infringing this patent?
Yes; by changing plant sources, solvents, or purification techniques outside claimed parameters, competitors can avoid infringement.
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How does RU2384347 compare with international patents on herbal antioxidants?
While similar patents exist globally, RU2384347’s specific process claims and Russian patent law enforcement provide a unique local protective landscape.
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What is the importance of the patent’s chemical characterization?
The detailed phenolic content claims facilitate infringement detection and support the patent’s validity, especially against biotech copycats focusing on chemical markers.
References
- Russian Federation Patent RU2384347. Method for producing a bioactive compound with antioxidant activity. 2010.
- National Patent Database of Russia, official documentation and legal status.
- Patent landscaping studies for natural antioxidants in Russia, including sector reports from 2015–2022.
