TECHNOLOGICAL AND THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF Calotropis procera
Plants are largely used in folk medicine and widely expanded in Brazil, being for a long time the olny alternative for treatment of several diseases based on familiar traditional knowledge, whose plants are consumed with little or no evidences about their pharmacological properties. Studies involving the Calotropis procera (Ait.) R. Br (Apocynacea) species are very commom since it is used as herbal medicine against many diseases. Prospective analysis is an important tool in identifying opportunities and more relevant needs in Research and Development (R & D) as well as the influences planned in innovation systems. Since Brazil has an abundance of this specie, this study performed a screening of developed research with patented results, evaluating the medical use of C. procera. The European Patent Bank, Bank of the World Intellectual Property Organization, the American Bank of Marks, Patents and USPTO, the database of the National Institute of Industrial Property of Brazil and the bases of Web journals of Science, Sciencie Direct, and SciELO were used to proceed the datamining. Research involving this genus for medicinal, therapeutic and pharmaceutical purposes detect 22 patents and classification A61K was more frequent. Of the 29 papers found at Scielo about C. procera, 19 are from Brazilian institutions, though the unexpressive number of patents (total of 3) reflects the lack of national investment in research, innovation and development of technology as a way to add values to plant.