Natural Products for Drug Discovery in Cognitive Disabilities: Bibliometric Hotspots, Research Trends, Conceptual Framework, and Future Directions

TL;DR

This paper analyzes research trends in natural products for cognitive disabilities, showing growth and key areas like Alzheimer's and new technologies.

Contribution

A novel bibliometric analysis of natural products in cognitive disabilities, identifying growth trends and emerging research themes.

Findings

The field has shown a 12.36% annual growth rate since 1971, with 2021 being the most productive year.

Alzheimer’s disease, oxidative stress, and neuroprotection are dominant research themes.

Emerging trends include ferroptosis and network pharmacology as new therapeutic approaches.

Abstract

Background: The therapeutic potential of natural products in cognitive disabilities has drawn growing attention, yet a comprehensive analysis of trends and key contributors is lacking. This study provides a bibliometric overview highlighting growth patterns, themes, and future directions. Methods: A comprehensive Scopus search with multistep filtering was conducted by applying keywords related to natural products and cognitive disabilities to titles, abstracts, and keywords, initially retrieving 10,011 documents. Filters for original articles and English language reduced the results to 5688. Data extracted in October 2024 were analyzed using Excel and the R-package, yielding performance and citation indices. Differential proliferation was visualized using a Sankey diagram, while thematic maps highlighted key research themes, geographic trends, and subject clusters. Results: The field exhibited an annual growth rate of 12.36% from 1971 to 2024, with 2021 being the most productive year (497 articles). In recent decades, citation metrics have highlighted significant impacts. Thematic maps and Sankey diagrams revealed the research focus, geographic trends, and collaboration. Alzheimer’s disease dominates the field, alongside topics such as oxidative stress, neuroprotection, and molecular docking. Emerging trends include ferroptosis, UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, and network pharmacology, which have marked advancements in therapeutic and computational approaches. Conclusions: This analysis underscores the dynamic and interdisciplinary nature of this field, highlighting areas for future exploration, particularly underrepresented cognitive disorders and novel therapeutic approaches.

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