Zerumbone: Comprehensive Examination of the Scientific Literature

Background and Objective: Zerumbone is a monosesquiterpene volatile organic compound isolated from the Zingiber zerumbet Smith plant and has versatile biological activities. Since 1960, plenty of research has been conducted on this compound's phytochemistry, pharmacology and other aspects. This bibliometric study quantifies impact, identifies trends, maps collaborations in zerumbone research and reveals its scientific landscape and themes. Materials and Methods: The bibliographic data for this study, focusing on zerumbone research, was retrieved from the Scopus database using PRISMA Guidelines and the MeSH database of terms. The analysis of the data was carried out utilizing VOSviewer and R-based Bibliometrix applications. Various features and parameters, such as publication trends, author productivity, co-citation patterns, thematic clusters and emerging topics, were examined to provide a comprehensive understanding of the scientific landscape and themes in zerumbone research. Results: Zerumbone research has expanded significantly since 1960, particularly in recent decades. Murakami, A. from Japan emerged as the most productive and influential scholar, while Kitayama, T. assumed prominence in journals associated with zerumbone research. Malaysia showed prolific engagement in this field. Major thematic clusters included apoptosis, docking, NF-kappa B, angiogenesis, Alzheimer's disease and antioxidant activity. The analysis identified a turning point in 2016 and highlighted trending topics such as cisplatin combination, antimicrobial activity, molecular docking, colorectal cancer and oxidative stress. Conclusion: The findings provided a comprehensive overview that guides future research, collaborations and decision-making to advance scientific understanding of zerumbone.