Natural Products in Leukaemia Research: A Bibliometric Review

Abstract

Introduction

This study evaluated the available literature concerning the diverse aspects of natural product activity against leukaemia.

Methods

Bibliometric data were obtained from the Scopus bibliographic database through search phrases developed from the MeSH database. Statistical analysis of the data was performed via Bibliometerix and VOSviewer. The search query was constructed on the basis of MeSH terms (D010936, D064209, and D007938) for the major topics. The data were further examined via bibliometric software tools such as Bibliometerix and VOSviewer.

Results

This bibliometric assessment covered original scientific articles from 1961 to 2023 in 1 039 journals and 4 704 documents with positive trends, which suggested a polynomial regression fit of the data (R² = 0.9346). The most active researcher is T. Efferth (Germany). The most advanced, cited, and collaborative nation is the United States. The key themes identified include ‘apoptosis,’ ‘cancer,’ ‘cytotoxicity,’ ‘HL-60 cells,’ and ‘Bcl-2.’ Thematic evolution reveals a shift toward emerging areas such as ‘molecular docking’ and ‘network pharmacology.’

Conclusions

These findings provide critical insights into research trends and highlight the evolving focus within leukaemia-related natural product studies, offering directions for future advancements.