The Evolution of Phytochemical and Medicinal Plant Research in Chile: Status, Opportunities, and Challenges

The global use of herbal medicines and research on plant bioactive compounds have steadily increased. In Chile, this growth is linked to ethnobotanical knowledge and advances in phytochemistry, although gaps persist in its evolution, leadership, and regulatory articulation. This study analyzes scientific production on phytochemicals and medicinal plants (1976-2025), identifying growth patterns, leading journals, authorship, and collaboration networks.

A mixed-methods approach combined bibliometric analysis of Web of Science records with inductive qualitative content analysis from researcher interviews. The quantitative phase applied performance analysis and scientific mapping, using indicators such as Price's, Lotka's, Bradford's, and Zipf's laws to evaluate evolution, productivity, and impact. The qualitative phase explored perceptions of the field's current state, limitations, and challenges, thereby contextualizing the bibliometric findings.

Analysis of 2149 articles and 6878 authors shows exponential growth (11.46% annually; R² = 0.952), with 674 publications projected by 2035. Productivity is concentrated among key authors and institutions (University of Chile, Concepción, Talca). Research focuses on antioxidant activity and bioactive compounds. Despite progress, gaps persist in clinical validation, technology transfer, and health system integration, while biodiversity and omics are emerging as strategic assets.

Phytochemistry in Chile is expanding rapidly, requiring integrated frameworks that combine clinical validation, sustainable biodiversity management, advanced analytical and computational tools, technology transfer, and adaptive public policies to translate scientific knowledge into evidence-based healthcare, biotechnology, and sustainable innovation.