AUTHOR=Huang Zhibang , Hou Zhengkun , Liu Fengbin , Zhang Mei , Hu Wen , Xu Shaofen 

TITLE=Scientometric Analysis of Medicinal and Edible Plant Coptis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.725162

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2021.725162

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objective:</bold> A scientometric analysis to obtain knowledge mapping of <italic>Coptis</italic> revealed the current research situation, knowledge base and research hotspots in <italic>Coptis</italic> research.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold><italic>Coptis</italic>-related documents published from 1987 to 2020 were selected through the Web of Science Core Collection. CiteSpace, VOSviewer and Microsoft Excel were used to construct knowledge maps of the <italic>Coptis</italic> research field.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> A total of 367 documents and their references were analyzed. These papers were primarily published in mainland China (214), followed by Japan (57) and South Korea (52), and they each formed respective cooperation networks. The document co-citation analysis suggested that the identification of <italic>Coptis</italic> Salisb. species, the production of alkaloids, and the mechanisms of action of these alkaloids formed the knowledge bases in this field. A keyword analysis further revealed that the research hotspots were primarily concentrated in three fields of research involving berberine, <italic>Coptis chinensis</italic> Franch, and <italic>Coptis japonica</italic> (Thunb) Makino. Oxidative stress, rat plasma (for the determination of plasma alkaloid contents), and Alzheimer’s disease are recent research hotspots associated with <italic>Coptis</italic>.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold><italic>Coptis</italic> research was mainly distributed in three countries: China, Japan, and South Korea. Researchers were concerned with the identification of <italic>Coptis</italic> species, the production of <italic>Coptis</italic> alkaloids, and the efficacy and pharmacological mechanism of the constituent alkaloids. In addition, the anti-oxidative stress, pharmacokinetics, and Alzheimer’s disease treatment of <italic>Coptis</italic> are new hotspots in this field. This study provides a reference for <italic>Coptis</italic> researchers.</p>