Scientific Mapping and Knowledge Evolution of Global Areca Research.

Area of Science:

• Oral oncology and public health research.
• Toxicology and carcinology.

Background:

• Areca nut is a Group I carcinogen linked to oral potentially malignant disorders and oral cancer.
• Understanding global research trends is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of global areca research.
• To identify publication trends, intellectual structure, and emerging research frontiers.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis of 2882 articles (1985-2024) from the Web of Science Core Collection.
• Analysis of publication outputs, regional/institutional contributions, journal distributions, co-cited references, and keyword evolution.
• Temporal and network analyses to identify research clusters and trajectories.

Main Results:

• Global publications on areca have significantly increased, with major contributions from India, Taiwan, China, and the Chinese mainland.
• Key research themes include areca toxicity, oral submucous fibrosis, oral cancer, and synergistic effects with tobacco/alcohol.
• Recent research is shifting towards mechanistic and translational studies on fibrosis and carcinogenic pathways.

Conclusions:

• This bibliometric overview maps the evolution of global areca research.
• Multidisciplinary and international collaborations are vital for advancing mechanistic understanding and prevention strategies.
• The findings provide a foundation for targeted public health and clinical strategies against areca-related oral diseases.