A bibliometric analysis of global research on plant-derived antimicrobials targeting Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (2004-2024).
Cabuhat KSP, Fortaleza JAG, Ong CJN, Nazari R, Jalova AC
Antimicrobial Resistance
Herbs and medicinal plants that traditional cultures have used for centuries are now being validated by thousands of scientists worldwide as potential weapons against infections that our best antibiotics can no longer cure.
Scientists took stock of 20 years of research on using plants to fight one of the world's most dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria — the 'superbug' known as MRSA. They found that researchers across the globe, especially in China and India, have been working together intensely on this, producing nearly 1,500 studies. The field has evolved from simply asking 'which plants kill this bug?' to now engineering tiny plant-based particles that can target the infection in smarter, more powerful ways.
Key Findings
1,468 publications across 535 journals were analyzed over 20 years, showing rapid growth in the field, with Asia dominating output (China: 526 publications, India: 427).
Research has evolved through four distinct phases, culminating in a frontier focused on nanoformulations and dual-action strategies that fight both infection and inflammation simultaneously.
The field is highly collaborative, averaging 6.35 authors per paper with 27.52% international co-authorships and strong citation impact at 28.18 citations per document — yet a significant gap remains between lab findings and actual clinical medicines.
chevron_right Technical Summary
A sweeping review of 20 years of global research reveals that plant extracts are a growing and highly collaborative scientific frontier in the fight against drug-resistant 'superbug' staph infections, with Asia — particularly China and India — now leading the world in output and the field rapidly advancing toward sophisticated new delivery methods.
Abstract Preview
The global surge in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) necessitates alternative therapeutic strategies, with plant-derived extracts emerging as promising candidates against methicillin-resistant Staphy...
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