Bibliometric Analysis of Medicinal Plants from Brunei Darussalam: Uncovering Novel Anticancer Targets

Brunei Darussalam boasts a rich biodiversity of medicinal plants, including species like Piper betel, Piper sarmentosum, Piper crocatum, and agarwood, which have demonstrated anticancer properties in previous studies. This bibliometric analysis aimed to explore research trends related to these plants and anticancer activity. A Scopus database search conducted on July 27th, 2024, yielded 210 relevant articles using the keywords "Piper betel" OR "Piper sarmentosum" OR "Piper crocatum" OR "Agarwood" AND "Cancer." VOSviewer was employed for data analysis and visualization. Results indicate a strong association between oral cancer and the four target plants, with agarwood being the second most frequently connected keyword. Notably, research collaboration between these two areas remains limited, suggesting a potential research gap. While East Asian researchers, particularly from Chung Shan Medical University in Taiwan, have been at the forefront of this field, the absence of research originating from Brunei Darussalam presents a significant opportunity for local investigation. Cancer Letters (Elsevier), which has published ten relevant articles, emerges as a potential target journal for future research in this domain. This bibliometric analysis provides valuable insights into research trends and potential avenues for future investigations into the anticancer properties of these Bruneian medicinal plants.