Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• • A total of 1,026 Chinese and 649 English articles were analyzed, revealing a sustained growth trend in annual publication output; this volume indicates robust research activity but also signals potential redundancy in basic antioxidant mechanism studies, necessitating a shift toward precision-targeted investigations. • • China dominates the field with core institutions such as Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, and Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine; however, the lack of dense domestic and international collaboration networks impedes cross-validation of mechanistic findings and slows clinical translation. • • Keyword burst analysis identifies a decisive frontier shift from basic antioxidant mechanisms toward network pharmacology, molecular docking, and ferroptosis; this transition reflects the field's maturation from descriptive oxidative stress modulation to actionable, target-specific interventions with higher industrial and clinical relevance. • • The most productive journals are Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae and Journal of Ethnopharmacology, providing clear publication channels; researchers targeting high-impact dissemination should align their mechanistic studies with the scope of these journals to maximize visibility and citation potential.
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Abstract
This bibliometric investigation systematically maps the research landscape of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) interventions targeting mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) from database inception to March 31, 2026. A total of 1,026 Chinese and 649 English articles were retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and Web of Science Core Collection. CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix were employed to analyze annual publication output, countries, institutions, authors, journals, and keywords, including co-occurrence clustering and burst detection. Results demonstrate sustained growth in annual publications, with China dominating the field, though domestic and international collaboration networks remain fragmented. Core research institutions include Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, and Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine. The most productive journals are Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae and Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Top Chinese keywords are oxidative stress, mitochondria, TCM, Chinese herbal medicine, and mechanisms of action; top English keywords are oxidative stress, apoptosis, activation, TCM, and reactive oxygen species. Keyword burst analysis reveals a research frontier transition from basic antioxidant mechanisms toward network pharmacology, molecular docking, and ferroptosis. These findings provide data-driven guidance for subsequent mechanistic studies and research planning, highlighting the need for strengthened cross-disciplinary cooperation.
1. Introduction
Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) are central to cellular redox signaling and pathological oxidative damage, implicated in conditions ranging from neurodegeneration to cancer and metabolic disorders. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has long been proposed as a modulator of mtROS, yet the field has struggled with fragmented evidence, inconsistent experimental models, and a lack of systematic mapping of research trends. Prior to this study, no comprehensive bibliometric analysis had integrated both Chinese and English literature to delineate the trajectory, hotspots, and emerging frontiers of TCM-mtROS research. This gap hindered strategic resource allocation and cross-disciplinary collaboration, leaving researchers without a clear roadmap for mechanistic exploration or clinical translation.
To address this bottleneck, the present study employed CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix to analyze 1,675 articles (1,026 Chinese, 649 English) retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and Web of Science Core Collection up to March 31, 2026. By performing co-occurrence clustering, burst detection, and collaboration network analysis, the investigation identifies a decisive shift from basic antioxidant mechanisms toward network pharmacology, molecular docking, and ferroptosis. This protocol provides the first data-driven synthesis of TCM-mtROS research, offering actionable insights for research planning and highlighting the urgent need for strengthened cross-institutional and international cooperation to accelerate clinical translation.
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XIE Chunfang, XIAO Ruixuan, CHEN Guiyan, LI Hong, ZHANG Tian'e (2026). Visualization Analysis of Knowledge Graph on Regulation of Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species by Traditional Chinese Medicine Based on CiteSpace and VOSviewer. Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs. https://doi.org/10.7501/j.issn.0253-2670.2026.16.20261620
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the primary failure mechanisms or limitations in current TCM-mtROS research that this bibliometric analysis reveals?
The analysis of 1,675 articles (1,026 Chinese, 649 English) shows that domestic and international cooperation networks are not well-developed, leading to fragmented evidence and redundant basic antioxidant studies. Keyword burst analysis indicates that the field is transitioning from basic antioxidant mechanisms toward network pharmacology, molecular docking, and ferroptosis, but the lack of cross-disciplinary collaboration impedes validation of mechanistic findings and slows clinical translation. This fragmentation is a critical failure mode, as it prevents the consolidation of robust, target-specific interventions.
How does the publication volume and growth trend compare between Chinese and English literature, and what does this imply for global research strategy?
A total of 1,026 Chinese and 649 English articles were included, with annual publication output showing sustained growth. China dominates the field, with core institutions such as Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, and Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine. However, the disparity in volume and the insular nature of collaboration networks suggest that Chinese research is prolific but may lack international integration. For global strategy, this implies a need for enhanced cross-border partnerships to leverage China's volume with international methodological rigor and diverse patient cohorts.
What are the most productive journals and keyword hotspots, and how should R&D directors prioritize publication and research targets?
The most productive journals are Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae and Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Top Chinese keywords are oxidative stress, mitochondria, TCM, Chinese herbal medicine, and mechanisms of action; top English keywords are oxidative stress, apoptosis, activation, TCM, and reactive oxygen species. R&D directors should prioritize these journals for dissemination and align research with emerging frontiers such as network pharmacology, molecular docking, and ferroptosis, as these represent the field's shift toward precision mechanisms with higher translational potential.
What are the scalability bottlenecks for translating TCM-mtROS research into clinical or industrial applications, based on the bibliometric evidence?
The bibliometric evidence highlights that while research output is growing, the collaboration networks are not tightly connected, and the field is only now moving toward precise mechanisms like network pharmacology and molecular docking. This suggests that scalability is hindered by a lack of standardized models, inconsistent experimental protocols, and insufficient multi-center validation. The transition to ferroptosis and molecular docking indicates a move toward target-specific interventions, but without strengthened cross-disciplinary cooperation, scaling from bench to bedside will remain slow and resource-intensive.
How does the shift toward network pharmacology and molecular docking address previous limitations in TCM-mtROS research?
Keyword burst analysis shows that the research frontier is shifting from basic antioxidant mechanisms toward network pharmacology, molecular docking, and ferroptosis. This shift addresses previous limitations by enabling the identification of multi-target mechanisms and precise molecular interactions, moving beyond descriptive oxidative stress modulation. Network pharmacology allows systematic prediction of TCM compound-target interactions, while molecular docking provides structural validation. This precision-oriented approach enhances the reproducibility and translational relevance of findings, potentially overcoming the fragmentation and lack of mechanistic depth that characterized earlier studies.
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