A bibliometric overview of the antimicrobial properties of Combretaceae species

• Combretum and Terminalia are the most studied genera. • Terminalia chebula is the most studied species in the family. • Species are used in oral health as mouth wash and toothpaste. • Extracts are used as dye and antimicrobial agents in fabrics. • Ttriphala nanoparticles incorporated into wools are used for wound dressings. Species of the Combretaceae have an impressive history of traditional use for the treatment of microbial infections. Ethnopharmacological studies have shown that both crude extracts and isolated compounds possess antimicrobial properties. While previous reviews were limited to individual species or genera, this study provides data to elucidate patterns, trends, and progress in confirming the antimicrobial activities of the family Combretaceae from 1976 to 2022. This review also explores collaborations and contributions of authors and countries to identify opportunities for further research. Data from the Scopus database were filtered and analyzed using VOSviewer, an open-source network visualization software, to identify publication volumes, research trends, author contributions, and research progress during the review period. Term analysis of the 677 articles retrieved from the database revealed five distinct clusters. The first cluster focused on the antimicrobial activities of crude extracts against a variety of pathogens associated with oral infections, gastrointestinal tract infections, urinary tract infections, and multidrug-resistant pathogens. The second cluster identified compounds with antimicrobial activities. The third cluster focused on biofilm formation and anti-QS, with an emphasis on oral infections. The fourth cluster describes the use of nanoparticle-synthesized extracts. The major antimicrobial constituents in the family are tannins (hydrolysable and condensed) and triterpenoids. However, there are challenges associated with the bio-availability and pharmacokinetics of these molecules in humans. Therefore, research on the external applications of plant extracts and isolated compounds from the Combretaceae family is recommended. Furthermore, the use of several species in different regions for treating infections, and the similarities in their phytochemistry, reflect the efficacy of these species in treating microbial infections. Therefore, species belonging to Combretaceae are worthy of further investigation for their potential against antibiotic-resistant pathogens.