Pharmacological applications of farnesol (C₁₅H₂₆O): a patent review

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Farnesol (C₁₅H₂₆O) is a sesquiterpene alcohol found in essential oils. This substance is reported to have different pharmacological activities such as antimicrobial, antitumor and antioxidant effects, as well as actions in different body systems.

Areas covered: This study aimed to analyze pharmaceutical patents containing this substance in their formulations. Patent search was carried out through the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization), LatiPat and INPI (National Institute of Industrial Property) electronic banks using the following descriptors and combinations: ‘farnesol’, ‘pharmaceutical product’, ‘pharmacology’ and ‘pharmacy’.

Expert opinion: Primary research identified 54 patents, from which 17 were selected for the final analysis after applying the inclusion criteria. The selected patents referred to products presenting different pharmaceutical activities of interest such as the prevention and treatment of diseases affecting the dermis, central nervous and cardiovascular systems, diseases caused by different microorganisms and cancers, among others. A minority of the articles included in this review reported the type of farnesol isomer that was investigated, this becoming a major limitation for the development of future pharmaceutical products. With the completion of this study, farnesol presents itself as a potential agent with pharmacological application both in the prevention and treatment of different diseases.

KEYWORDS:

• Farnesol
• patents
• pharmacology
• sesquiterpenes

Article highlights

• This study examined for the first time the patents of pharmaceutical products with Farnesol

• Farnesol has been shown to possess different pharmacological properties both for the prevention and treatment of different conditions that may affect human health

• A minority of the patents included in this review reported the type of farnesol isomer under study.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES, Finance code 001), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Fundação Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (FUNCAP) and Universidade Regional do Cariri (URCA).

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.