Bibliometric analysis of berberine

Objective: This study aims to delineate the growing trends in the application of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and provide insights for future research. Methods: Relevant literature on berberine (BR) was first screened from the Web of Science Core Collection. Research trends in this field were then analyzed using VOSviewer, Excel, and an online platform. Results: A total of 5,388 publications on BR were identified. "Berberine" emerged as the most frequent keyword, with a total link strength of 16,071, strongly associated with "apoptosis" and "expression." Articles on BR were published by 106 countries and regions, with the highest number originating from China (3,176). The primary international collaborators of China were Iran, India, and Italy. The top six institutions with the highest publication counts were all based in China, with the Chinese Academy of Sciences leading in publications. The average citation count for the top five most productive authors was 33 (range: 28–40). The author with the highest average citation published eight articles, amassing 775 citations in total. The leading journal in terms of publications was Frontiers in Pharmacology, with 182 articles published, which also ranked as the most cited journal in this field, accumulating 4,083 citations. Conclusions: This study provides a global overview of berberine research, highlighting the central role of China and significant international collaborations. The findings emphasize berberine's potential in regulation of apoptosis and gene expression, suggesting avenues for further research into its therapeutic applications.