Global research progress and trends in traditional Chinese medicine for chronic kidney disease since the 21st century: a bibliometric analysis

Abstract

Objective: This study analyzed literature on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in treating chronic kidney disease (CKD) to identify research trends and provide guidance for future studies and clinical practice.

Methods: The study used data from Web of Science from 2000 to 2024 to analyze English-language literature on CKD and TCM. Bibliometric analysis was done using R software and the bibliometric package, with scientific mapping and visualization analysis conducted using tools like Citespace, VOSviewer, and ScimagoGraphica to explore research trends and connections.

Results: This study revealed that a total of 1,153 relevant documents were retrieved, and the number of published articles showed an increasing trend, reaching a peak in 2022. In terms of article publication, China ranked first with 760 articles, closely followed by the United States with 132 articles. Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine published 60 papers, the most among academic institutions, followed by Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine with 54 papers. In terms of individual authors, Liu Xinhui holds the record for the highest number of published articles, totaling 17, followed by Li Ping and Li Shunmin. The prevalent keywords include "chronic kidney disease," "TCM," and "oxidative stress." Currently, the prominent areas of research interest include network pharmacology, gut microbiota, oxidative stress, and related topics. The current research trend in this field is towards the adoption of novel methodologies such as network pharmacology and the emphasis on exploring the relationship between gut microbiota and CKD.

Conclusion: Global research on TCM in the treatment of CKD is showing a positive development trend, but further research on safety, efficacy evaluation, and international cooperation is still needed. The development trend is to adopt new scientific research methods and focus on exploring the mechanism of TCM in treating CKD.

Keywords: chronic kidney disease; gut microbiota; network pharmacology; oxidative stress; traditional Chinese medicine.

Figure 1

Flow chart of the literature search.

Figure 2

Literature distribution analysis. (A) Publication trends from 2000 to 2024, showing a significant increase in recent years, especially in 2022. (B) Top 10 countries by publication volume, with China and the U.S. leading. (C) General overview of the included literature, reflecting the growing global interest in TCM and CKD research.

Figure 3

Analysis of country releases for included articles. (A) Visualization map of country cooperation, showing that China, the United States, and European countries are the main contributors in this research area. (B) Chordal map of country cooperation, indicating that collaborations are mainly centered around China and the United States, with most collaborations involving developed countries. (C) Map ranked by the number of articles for country cooperation, revealing that the UK has the highest percentage of international collaborative articles, while some countries have fewer international collaborations.

Figure 4

Analysis of the issuing institutions. (A) Visualization map showing cooperation between institutions, with more collaborations among Nanjing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou Universities of TCM. (B) Time map indicating that the average publication year is centered, and most papers are from the last 10 years. (C) Posting patterns of the top five institutions, showing the influence of Guangzhou and Shanghai Universities of TCM and their recent publication activity.

Figure 5

Analysis of journals. (A) Visual map showing influential journals in the study area, such as Frontiers in Pharmacology, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, and Evidence-Based Complementary. (B) Distribution graph indicating “Journal of Ethnopharmacology” has a long publication time, while “Frontiers in Pharmacology” publishes more recently. (C) Double-stacked graph revealing citation patterns between different fields of journals.

Figure 6

Analysis of co-authors. (A) Visual map showing author collaboration mainly in groups with limited cross-institutional cooperation. (B) Time map indicating high-impact Chinese scholars’ publication patterns before 2022. (C) Posting patterns of top authors, with most starting after 2012 and few contributing for over a decade.

Figure 7

Keyword visualization analysis. (A) Visualization map of keywords, showing that “chronic kidney disease,” “oxidative stress,” “traditional chinese medicine,” and “inflammation” are frequently used. (B) Keyword density map, indicating the frequency of keyword occurrence. (C) Keyword clustering map, revealing 11 clusters, with #0prevalence containing the most keywords and associations.

Figure 8

Keyword Analysis. (A) Timeline graph showing keyword distribution and evolution, with #0prevalence more evenly distributed and some keywords used consistently. (B) Outbreak graph indicating “network pharmacology” has high burst intensity in 2022–2024, and “interstitial renal fibrosis” has the longest burst duration.