Global research landscape of natural medicines for lower urinary tract symptoms: bibliometric and clinical trial analysis

BACKGROUND: Natural medicines have demonstrated significant therapeutic potential in the management and attenuation of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). According to the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), a total of 497 related articles have been published during the last 25 years. China was the most productive country, followed by India and the United States. However, the United States showed substantial influence in earlier years and contributed prominently to clinical trial activity. This study employs a systematic, visualized synthesis of bibliometric and clinical trial data to effectively delineate the research frontier and inform future directions. METHODS: To map the research landscape, a bibliometric examination was performed using a structured search query to gather relevant papers on natural medicines and urinary symptoms published over a 25-year span. The information extracted for analysis included titles, journals, authors, affiliations, citations, keywords, and a set of keywords associated with natural medicines for urinary symptoms. Furthermore, the ClinicalTrials.gov registry was utilized to evaluate the profile of trials testing natural agents against LUTS. RESULTS: The bibliometric analysis included 497 publications from 78 countries and identified a total of 22,160 cited references. China produced the highest number of publications. Review of the clinical trial data indicated that most trials were conducted in phases II-IV. Research activity in this field demonstrated phased growth, accompanied by continued institutional funding. CONCLUSION: This analysis has traced research outcomes and transformation models regarding natural medicines in LUTS management. Clinical investigation confirms the field's evolution toward practical implementation. A central goal of present-day investigation involves delineating the pathological mechanisms of LUTS progression, defining particular common signaling routes, and producing effective clinical medications.