Phytochemistry-five decades of research in Africa: A bibliometric analysis

Background and aims: This study used bibliometric tools to quantitatively achieve a structural overview of research characteristics and potentials of phytochemistry in Africa within the last five decades (۱۹۷۰–۲۰۲۲). Methods: A total of ۲۶۶۲ phytochemistry related publications from ۸۲۲ sources published between ۱۹۷۰ and ۲۰۲۲ were identified from Dimensions database and subjected to bibliometrics analysis using Bibliometrix package and VOSviewer software. Results: The publications span ۹۷۷۵ authors, ۳۰ African countries, and ۱۱۴۲ organizations. In terms of research themes, text mining for high- relevance/frequency keywords revealed that “Phenol” (۷.۳۱۸۲) and “Flavonoid” (۵.۳۶۳۷) were the most cited plant metabolites among all publications. The key noun-phrases for solvents were “Aqueous”, “methanol” and “ethanol”. The most cited terms in plant family were “Tamaricaceae” (۴.۹۵۷۵) and “Lamiaceae” (۴.۹۲۷۳); plant species, “Acacia nilotica” (۴.۴۹۰۹) and “Aloe barbadensis” (۴.۳۹۴۶); bacteria strains, “Klebsiella pneumoniae” (۴.۶۹۳۲) and “Staphylococcus aureus” (۳.۳۵۳۸); fungal species, “Aspergillus” (۲.۷۲۲۸) and “Penicillium notatum” (۲.۴۰۵۴); Viral strains, “Human immune deficiency virus” (۳.۳۴۸۲) and “Hepatitis C virus” (۳.۲۷۹۶); parasites, “Plasmodium” (۱۲.۰۵۷۶) and “Leishmania sp” (۸.۳۶۰۲). The most cited methods of detection and analysis of phytochemicals were “Gas chromatography mass spectrometry” (۱.۷۲۵۶) and “High performance liquid chromatography” (۱.۶۸۸۹). Interactive Site Suitability Models, orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), plant organically bound tritium (OBT), and quantitative structure–activity relationship models (QSAR models) were the most cited models. Inequality in the geographical distribution of publication output was the source of concern. Conclusion: A drive towards computational phytochemistry could be detected as an important change in research focus.

کلیدواژه ها:

Bibliometric ، Phytochemistry ، Microorganisms ، Plants metabolites ، Africa