Exploring the Mechanisms of Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention in Ischemic Stroke: A CiteSpace-Based Bibliometric Study and Visualized Analysis
Clinical Medical College of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, 712046, China
The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, 712046, China
Clinical Medical College of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, 712046, China
Clinical Medical College of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, 712046, China
Clinical Medical College of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, 712046, China
Clinical Medical College of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, 712046, China
Clinical Medical College of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, 712046, China
School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi 712046, China.
Abstract
Purpose: This study aims to analyze the research hotspots and emerging trends in the application of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for the intervention of Ischemic Stroke (IS) utilizing CiteSpace.
Method: A comprehensive search was conducted for pertinent publications within the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-Expanded) of the Web of Science Core Collection, covering the period from its inception to May 5, 2025 AD. Concurrently, relevant literature was sourced from the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database, focusing onPKU Core Journals, CSSCI, and CSCD categories, spanning the years 2000 to 2025. CiteSpace was employed to generate a network map, facilitating the identification of leading authors, institutions, countries, keywords, co-cited authors, journals, references, and prevailing research trends.
Result: A comprehensive search yielded 1,929 pertinent articles from the SCI-Expanded database and 2,016 relevant documents from the CNKI database. Gao Ying and Wang Lei emerged as the most prolific authors in the SCI-Expanded database, with their publications appearing in various prominent journals. Long Enze and Wang Yi were identified as the authors with the highest citation counts. Leading institutions in this domain include Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, with China being recognized as a dominant contributor to the field. The most frequently cited authors and references predominantly address the epidemiology and characteristics of IS. The top ten keywords, characterized by high frequency and median centrality, include activation, neural regeneration, ischemic stroke, cerebral infarction, Alzheimer's disease, rats, oxidative stress, reperfusion injury, cerebral ischemia, and blood-brain barrier. Notably, the keyword "cell death" exhibited the highest citation burst rate, while "molecular docking" ,"network pharmacology," and "cognitive impairment" have emerged as significant research frontiers. The authors with the most prolific output in the CNKI database include Xie Yanming. Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine is recognized as a leading institution in this field. The top ten keywords, identified by their high frequency and median centrality, are as follows: cerebral infarction, acupuncture, cerebral ischemia, traditional Chinese medicine, rats, acupuncture therapy, electroacupuncture, and review.
Conclusion: This study conducted a bibliometric analysis using CiteSpace to identify research hotspots and frontiers in the application of TCM for the intervention of IS. The findings indicate that key areas of focus include cell death, molecular docking, network pharmacology, and cognitive impairment as mechanisms by which TCM may influence IS. Emerging research trends are centered on mechanisms such as cell death, neural pathways, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Future research should aim to explore the interactions among these mechanisms in greater depth and elucidate the relationship between IS and TCM, with particular attention to the brain-gut axis, signal transduction pathways, and pyroptosis.
Keywords:
Traditional Chinese medicine; Ischemic stroke; bibliometric analysis; Visual Analysis; Cite SpaceData Availability Statement
The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the Web of Science Core Collection (SCI-Expanded) and can be accessed using the search strategy described in the Methods section.
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