Application of propolis extract in food products: A prospecting based in patent documents

Abstract

Due to the characteristics of propolis, their extracts have been used in various products; the process has its technology developed and it is protected by patent documents. The aim of the study was to perform a technological forecasting of the application of propolis extracts in food products. The search was conducted in the online base of Espacenet and INPI. The results showed that Japan stands out as the largest holder of the corresponding technology although importing almost the totality of propolis from Brazil. Brazil, despite being the third country in the world producing propolis, does not have a domain protection of this technology.