Plant-Based Therapies and Advanced Drug Delivery Systems for Liver Health: A Bibliometric Analysis
Researchers from the University of Nairobi have conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the current state of plant-based therapies and advanced drug delivery systems for liver health. The study, published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology, utilized the Scopus database to retrieve and analyze 645 documents, spanning 43 years, from 1981 to 2024. The results highlighted the growing synergy between plant-based therapies and advanced drug delivery systems, with significant contributions from Asian and Western countries.
Key Takeaways:
- The annual growth rate of publications in the field of plant-based therapies for liver health is 11.09%, with the majority of research output coming from China (33%), the United States (24%), and India (18%).
- Collaborative studies accounted for 24.34% of publications, with an average of 5.81 co-authors per document.
- Key innovations include nanoparticle encapsulation of curcumin and silymarin, improving bioavailability by up to 85%.
- Highly cited studies demonstrated the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic properties of curcumin and silymarin, with curcumin nanoparticles showing a 70% improvement in solubility and silymarin liposomal formulations enhancing therapeutic efficiency by 62%.
- Thematic analysis revealed a transition from basic clinical observations to molecular and pharmacokinetic research, with a focus on oxidative stress mitigation and hepatoprotection.
- The study highlights the growing synergy between plant-based therapies and advanced drug delivery systems, with significant contributions from Asian and Western countries.
- Future efforts should prioritize clinical trials, standardization of plant extract formulations, and interdisciplinary approaches to maximize therapeutic outcomes.
Statistics:
- Annual growth rate of publications: 11.09%
- Number of publications: 645
- Country distribution (by percentage):
+ China: 33%
+ United States: 24%
+ India: 18%
- Collaborative studies: 24.34%
- Average number of co-authors per document: 5.81
- Bioavailability improvement of curcumin nanoparticles: up to 85%
- Solubility improvement of curcumin nanoparticles: 70%
- Therapeutic efficiency enhancement of silymarin liposomal formulations: 62%
Sources:
- World Journal of Gastroenterology
- World Journal of Gastroenterology can be contacted at: Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, Ca, United States.
- (Baishideng Publishing Group - www.wjgnet.com/; World Journal of Gastroenterology - www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/current.htm)
- Investigators at University of Nairobi Report Findings in Nanoparticles (Plant Extracts With Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Benefits for Liver Health: a Bibliometric Analysis of Drug Delivery Systems). Health & Medicine Week. June 20, 2025; p 1998.