A Decade of Research on Plant-Based Anticancer Compounds: A Scientometric Analysis

Cancer continues to be one of the leading global health challenges, driving increasing scientific interest in natural and plant-derived therapeutic alternatives. This study presents a scientometric analysis of global research on plant-based anticancer compounds published between 1997 and 2025, with a particular focus on the past decade (2014–2023). A total of 279 publications were retrieved from the Web of Science database and analyzed using bibliometric techniques to map publication growth, research hotspots, collaborations, and citation impact. Findings indicate a consistent rise in scholarly output, with a sharp surge after 2017, reflecting the growing integration of phytochemistry, nanotechnology, and oncology. India, China, and the USA emerged as the leading contributors, supported by European and Middle Eastern collaborations. Prominent institutions include Comenius University (Slovakia) and NIPER (India), while key journals such as Journal of Ethnopharmacology and Phytomedicine have served as major publication venues. Keyword analysis revealed evolving themes from classical phytochemical mechanisms (apoptosis, angiogenesis inhibition) to emerging areas such as green nanotechnology, polyherbal synergism, and immunomodulation. Highly cited works emphasize the potential of synergistic phytochemical formulations and nanoparticle mediated delivery systems. Despite encouraging laboratory results, challenges such as assay variability, poor standardization of phytochemicals, and limited clinical translation remain major barriers. Future directions point toward integrating artificial intelligence, omics-based approaches, and sustainable green nanotechnology for advancing phytomedicine. This scientometric overview highlights the growing global emphasis on plant-based anticancer compounds, offering valuable insights for researchers, funding bodies, and policymakers to strengthen translational research in natural product oncology.