Research Status and Frontier Trends of Sinomenine Based on Bibliometric Analysis
This bibliometric investigation systematically maps the research landscape and emerging frontiers of sinomenine, an alkaloid derived from Sinomenium acutum, Diploclisia chinensis, and S. scutum. A comprehensive search of CNKI and Web of Science yielded 710 Chinese and 471 English publications, which were screened via NoteExpress and analyzed using Excel, CiteSpace, and VOSviewer. Publication trends, national distribution, institutional and author networks, and keyword co-occurrence were visualized. China dominates the field, with international attention rising annually. Core research teams have formed, yet collaboration remains largely intra-institutional or regional, with minimal cross-regional integration. Both Chinese and English literature converge on sinomenine's anti-arthritis pharmacological mechanisms, while Chinese studies additionally emphasize extraction, quality standards, and formulation development. The analysis identifies three future breakthrough dimensions: multi-omics-driven integration employing spatial transcriptomics and single-cell sequencing to dissect the drug-host-microbiome network; precision medicine-oriented drug delivery innovations, including microenvironment-responsive nanocarriers and smart hydrogels for targeted controlled release; and clinical expansion into neurodegenerative diseases and organ fibrosis with internationally compliant trials. Establishing a synergistic 'discovery-formulation-clinical validation' framework is recommended to accelerate sinomenine's translation from traditional herbal component to modern precision therapeutic, offering a paradigm for traditional Chinese medicine internationalization.