Curcumin: Total-Scale Analysis of the Scientific Literature

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry, Chemistry, Oncology, Pharmacology
• Bibliometric Analysis
• Natural Compounds Research

Background:

• Curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, has garnered attention for its potential health benefits.
• Previous reviews and meta-analyses have explored curcumin's therapeutic effects.
• A comprehensive bibliometric overview is needed to map the research landscape.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a bibliometric overview of curcumin literature.
• To identify major contributing countries, institutions, and journals.
• To analyze research trends and focus areas, including health benefits and applications.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric data sourced from Web of Science Core Collection.
• Search string: TOPIC=("curcumin*").
• Analysis conducted using VOSviewer software.

Main Results:

• 18,036 manuscripts identified, with over half published since 2014.
• Top contributing countries: United States, China, India, Japan, South Korea.
• Research predominantly focuses on curcumin's effects against cancer, inflammation, and oxidative stress, particularly in breast, colon, pancreatic, and prostate cancers.

Conclusions:

• The scientific community is actively researching curcumin, with a notable surge in publications recently.
• Curcumin research is multidisciplinary, spanning biochemistry, chemistry, oncology, and pharmacology.
• Key areas of investigation include cancer, inflammation, and oxidative stress, highlighting curcumin's therapeutic potential.