Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Evolving importance of anticancer research using herbal medicine: a scientometric analysis

  • Published:
Scientometrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Phytocompounds and herbal extracts have been utilized in Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani medicine since thousands of years for treatment of various ailments. Success behind herbal medicine strongly suggests the interaction between bio-active phytocompounds with crucial biochemical pathways in a human body without causing adverse effects. The increasing incidence of diseases like cancer instigated the scientific world to focus intently on their pathophysiology and prevention, leading to accelerated research activity in past three decades. This study aims at understanding the evolving global importance of herbal medicine and quality of research against various cancers through scientometric analyses by studying the output from research publications, followed by the contribution from various countries, research institutes, authors, scientific journals and areas of research. To visualize the research structure and dynamics, more than 5000 publications with Science Citation Index that appeared from 1984 to 2013 have been studied and compared for a trend in its growth of publication along with the contributions from various bibliometric parameters stated above. After using the ‘Web of Science’ database it became well evident that the concerned bibliometric parameters contributed substantially in projecting the overall scientific output in the field of herbal anticancer research as reflected from the citation analysis and h-index data. It has been observed that the number of publications increased with compound annual growth rate of 10.39% during the studied periods. Evolving trend of the research topics was visualised by drawing the keyword co-occurrence map in this field.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alhaider, I., Ahmed, M. K. K., & Gupta, B. M. (2014). Global research output on date palm (Pheonix dactylifera): A 12 years scientometric perspective. Scientometrics, 98(1), 157–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Almeida-Filho, N., Kawachi, I., Pellegrini, A., & Dachs, J. N. W. (2003). Research on health inequalities in Latin America and the Caribbean: Bibliometric analysis (1971–2000) and descriptive content analysis (1971–1995). American Journal of Public Health, 93(12), 2037–2043.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baur, J. A., & Sinclair, D. A. (2006). Therapeutic potential of resveratrol: The in vivo evidence. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 5(6), 493–506.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bayer, A. E., & Folger, J. (1966). Some correlates of a citation measure of productivity in science. Sociology of Education, 39(4), 381–390.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Broadus, R. N. (1987). Definition of bibliometrics. Scientometrics, 12, 373–398.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chaudhuri, D., Ghate, N. B., Panja, S., Das, A., & Mandal, N. (2015a). Wild edible fruit of Prunus nepalensis Ser. (Steud), a potential source of antioxidants, ameliorates iron overload-induced hepatotoxicity and liver fibrosis in mice. PLoS ONE, 10(12), e0144280. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0144280.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chaudhuri, D., Ghate, N. B., Singh, S. S., & Mandal, N. (2015b). Methyl gallate isolated from Spondias pinnata exhibits anticancer activity against human glioblastoma by induction of apoptosis and sustained extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 activation. Pharmacognosy Magazine, 11(42), 269–276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiu, W. T., & Ho, Y. S. (2007). Bibliometric analysis of tsunami research. Scientometrics, 73(1), 3–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christiansen, S., & Autschbach, R. (2006). Doxorubicin in experimental and clinical heart failure. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 30(4), 611–616.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Danell, J. A. B. (2014). Reception of integrative and complementary medicine (ICM) in scientific journals: A citation and co-word analysis. Scientometrics, 98(2), 807–821.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dastidar, P. G., Mallik, A., & Mandal, N. (2013). Contribution of shrimp disease research to the development of the shrimp aquaculture industry: An analysis of the research and innovation structure across the countries. Scientometrics 97(3), 659–674.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ding, Y., Chowdhury, G. G., & Foo, S. (2001). Bibliometric cartography of information retrieval research by using co-word analysis. Information Processing and Management, 37(6), 817–842.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Drake, A. M., & Dekker, M. (2004). Encyclopedia of library and information science. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, A. S., & McCamey, W. M. (1973). Measuring the performance of researchers. Research Management, 16(1), 34–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elango, B., Rajendran, P., & Bornmann, L. (2013). Global nanotribology research output (1996–2010): A scientometric analysis. PLoS ONE, 8(12), e81094. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0081094.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fu, J. Y., Zhang, X., Zhao, Y. H., Chen, D. Z., & Huang, M. H. (2012). Global performance of traditional Chinese medicine over three decades. Scientometrics, 90(3), 945–958.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghate, N. B., Chaudhuri, D., Sarkar, R., Sajem, A. L., Panja, S., Rout, J., et al. (2013). An antioxidant extract of tropical lichen, Parmotrema reticulatum, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in breast carcinoma cell line MCF-7. PLoS ONE, 8(12), e82293. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0082293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghate, N. B., Das, A., Chaudhuri, D., Panja, S., & Mandal, N. (2016). Sundew plant, a potential source of anti-inflammatory agents, selectively induces G2/M arrest and apoptosis in MCF-7 cells through upregulation of p53 and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Cell Death Discovery, 2, 15062. doi:10.1038/cddiscovery.2015.62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghate, N. B., Hazra, B., Sarkar, R., Chaudhuri, D., & Mandal, N. (2014a). Alteration of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio contributes to Terminalia belerica-induced apoptosis in human lung and breast carcinoma. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology—Animal, 50(6), 527–537.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghate, N. B., Hazra, B., Sarkar, R., & Mandal, N. (2014b). Heartwood extract of Acacia catechu induces apoptosis in human breast carcinoma by altering bax/bcl-2 ratio. Pharmacognosy Magazine, 10(37), 27–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghate, N. B., Hazra, B., Sarkar, R., & Mandal, N. (2014c). In vitro anticancer activity of Spondias pinnata bark on human lung and breast carcinoma. Cytotechnology, 66(2), 209–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grossi, F., Belvedere, O., & Rosso, R. (2003). Geography of clinical cancer research publications from 1995 to 1999. European Journal of Cancer, 39(1), 106–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guan, J., & Ma, N. (2004). A comparative study of research performance in computer science. Scientometrics, 61(3), 339–359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guan, J., Yan, Y., & Zhang, J. (2015). How do collaborative features affect scientific output? Evidences from wind power field. Scientometrics, 102(1), 333–355.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • He, Y. L., & Hui, S. C. (2002). Mining a web citation database for author co-citation analysis. Information Processing and Management, 38(4), 491–508.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Heliawati, L., Kardinan, A., Mayanti, T., & Tjokronegoro, R. (2015). Piceatanol: Anti-cancer compound from Gewang seed extract. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 5(1), 110–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, M., Shurville, S., & Fernstrom, K. (2009). The quantitative crunch: The impact of bibliometric research quality assessment exercises on academic development at small conferences. Campus-Wide Information Systems, 26(3), 149–167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirsch, J. E. (2005). An index to quantify an individual’s scientific research output. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 102(46), 16569–16572.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hollanders, H., & Soete, L. (2010). The growing role of knowledge in the global economy. UNESCO Science Report. Resource document. UNESCO Publishing. http://www.uis.unesco.org/Library/Documents/UNNESCOSR10-eng.pdf. Accessed March 16, 2015.

  • Hoyert, D. L., Heron, M. P., Murphy, S. L., & Kung, H. C. (2006). Deaths: Final data for 2003. National Vital Statistics Reports, 54(13), 1–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iñigo, J., Palma, J. A., Iriarte, J., & Urrestarazu, E. (2013). Evolution of the publications in clinical neurology: Scientific impact of different countries during the 2000–2009 period. Scientometrics, 95(3), 941–952.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ito, H., Kobayashi, E., Li, S. H., Hatano, T., Sugita, D., Kubo, N., et al. (2002). Antitumor activity of compounds isolated from leaves of Eriobotrya japonica. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 50(8), 2400–2403.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keawsa-ard, S., Natakankitkul, S., Liawruangrath, S., Teerawutkulrag, A., Trisuwan, K., Charoenying, P., et al. (2012). Anticancer and antibacterial activities of the isolated compounds from Solanum spirale Roxb. leaves. Chiang Mai Journal of Science, 39(3), 445–454.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khan, G. F., & Wood, J. (2015). Information technology management domain: Emerging themes and keyword analysis. Scientometrics, 105(2), 959–972.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kharb, M., Jat, R. K., & Gupta, A. (2012). A review on medicinal plants used as a source of anticancer agents. International Journal Drug Research Technology, 2(2), 177–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lai, K. K., & Wu, S. J. (2005). Using the patent co-citation approach to establish a new patent classification system. Information Processing and Management, 41(2), 313–330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, X. J., Zhan, F. B., Hong, S., Niu, B. B., & Liu, Y. L. (2012). A bibliometric study of earthquake research: 1900–2010. Scientometrics, 92(3), 747–765.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu, Y., Hou, S. X., & Chen, T. (2003). Advances in the study of vincristine: An anticancer ingredient from Catharanthus roseus. China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica, 28(11), 1006–1009.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mallik, A., & Mandal, N. (2014). Bibliometric analysis of global publication output and collaboration structure study in microRNA research. Scientometrics, 98(3), 2011–2037.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manil, L., Couvreur, P., & Mahieu, P. (1995). Acute renal toxicity of doxorubicin (adriamycin)-loaded cyanoacrylate nanoparticles. Pharmaceutical Research, 12(1), 85–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marin, Y. E., Wall, B. A., Wang, S., Namkoong, J., Martino, J. J., Suh, J., et al. (2007). Curcumin downregulates the constitutive activity of NF-kappaB and induces apoptosis in novel mouse melanoma cells. Melanoma Research, 17(5), 274–283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mathi, P., Das, S., Nikhil, K., Roy, P., Yerra, S., Ravada, S. R., et al. (2015). Isolation and characterization of the anticancer compound piceatannol from Sophora interrupta Bedd. International Journal of Preventive Medicine, 6, 101–111. doi:10.4103/2008-7802.167181.

    Google Scholar 

  • May, R. (1997). The scientific wealth of nations. Science, 275(7), 793–796.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mueen Ahmed, K. K., & Gupta, B. M. (2013). India’s contribution on antioxidants: A bibliometric analysis, 2001–10. Scientometrics, 94(2), 741–754.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nair, P. K. R., Melnick, S. J., Wnukc, S. F., Rappc, M., Escalond, E., & Ramachandran, C. (2009). Isolation and characterization of an anticancer catechol compound from Semecarpus anacardium. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 122(3), 450–456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nalimov, V. V., & Mulchenko, Z. M. (1969). Scientometrics. Study of the development of science as an information process, Nauka, Moscow (English translation: 1971). Washington, D.C.: Foreign Technology Division. U.S. Air Force Systems Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio (NTIS Report No. AD735- 634).

  • Nederhof, A. J. (2006). Bibliometric monitoring of research performance in the Social Sciences and the Humanities: A review. Scientometrics, 66(1), 81–100.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Panja, S., Chaudhuri, D., Ghate, N. B., & Mandal, N. (2014). Phytochemical profile of a microalgae Euglena tuba and its hepatoprotective effect against iron-induced liver damage in Swiss albino mice. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 117(6), 1773–1786.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Panja, S., Ghate, N. B., & Mandal, N. (2016). A microalga, Euglena tuba induces apoptosis and suppresses metastasis in human lung and breast carcinoma cells through ROS-mediated regulation of MAPKs. Cancer Cell International 16(51), 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phontree, K., Sichaem, J., Khumkratok, S., Siripong, P., & Tip-pyang, S. (2014). Trichostemonoate, a new anticancer tirucallane from the stem bark of Walsura trichostemon. Natural Product Communications, 9(9), 1253–1254.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pritchard, A. (1969). Statistical bibliography and bibliometrics? Journal of Documentation, 25(4), 348–349.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raja, K. S., Balambika, R., Dolai, S., & Shi, W. (2009). The concept of a green drug, curcumin and its derivatives as a model system. Mini Reviews in Organic Chemistry, 6(2), 152–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scripture, C. D., Figg, W. D., & Sparreboom, A. (2005). Paclitaxel chemotherapy: From empiricism to a mechanism-based formulation strategy. Journal of Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, 1(2), 107–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seglen, P. O. (1992). The skewness of science. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 43(9), 628–638.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sinha, B. (2012). Global biopesticide research trends: A bibliometric assessment. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 82(2), 95–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sporn, M. B., & Suh, N. (2002). Chemoprevention: An essential approach to controlling cancer. Nature Reviews Cancer, 2, 537–543.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, B. W., & Wild, C. P. (2014). World cancer report 2014. Geneva: International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization.

    Google Scholar 

  • Surh, Y. J. (2003). Cancer chemoprevention with dietary phytochemicals. Nature Reviews Cancer, 3(10), 768–780.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • The World Bank, IBRD-IDA, Anonymous. Research and development expenditure (% of GDP). http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS/countries. Accessed March 15, 2015.

  • Von Hoff, D. D., Layard, M. W., Basa, P., Davis, H. L., Jr., Von Hoff, A. L., Rozencweig, M., et al. (1979). Risk factors for doxorubicin-induced congestive heart failure. Annals of Internal Medicine, 91(5), 710–717.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, M. H., Li, J., & Ho, Y. S. (2011). Research articles published in water resources journals: A bibliometric analysis. Desalination and water treatment, 28(1–3), 353–365.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, D., Veena, M. S., Stevenson, K., Tang, C., Ho, B., Suh, J. D., et al. (2008). Liposome-encapsulated curcumin suppresses growth of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in vitro and in xenografts through the inhibition of nuclear factor kappaB by an AKT-independent pathway. Clinical Cancer Research, 14(19), 6228–6236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, L. A., Wang, M. H., Hu, J., & Ho, Y. S. (2010). A review of published wetland research, 1991–2008: Ecological engineering and ecosystem restoration. Ecological Engineering, 36(8), 973–980.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, L. M., & Zhang, Q. P. (2011). Mapping knowledge domains of Chinese digital library research output, 1994–2010. Scientometrics, 89(1), 51–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhuang, Y., Liu, X., Nguyen, T., He, Q., & Hong, S. (2013). Global remote sensing research trends during 1991–2010: A bibliometric analysis. Scientometrics, 96(1), 203–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Tapasree Basu and Ajoy Mallik are grateful to the University Grant Commission, Government of India for providing fellowship to pursue research. All the authors are thankful to Dr. Abhishek Das for performing an extensive editing of the manuscript.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Ajoy Mallik

    Present address: Department of Zoology, Dinabandhu Mahavidyalaya, Bongaon, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, 743235, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII M, Kolkata, 700054, India

    Tapasree Basu, Ajoy Mallik & Nripendranath Mandal

Authors
  1. Tapasree Basu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ajoy Mallik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nripendranath Mandal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nripendranath Mandal.

Additional information

Tapasree Basu and Ajoy Mallik have contributed equally to this work.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Basu, T., Mallik, A. & Mandal, N. Evolving importance of anticancer research using herbal medicine: a scientometric analysis. Scientometrics 110, 1375–1396 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-016-2223-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-016-2223-8

Keywords