Visualized analysis of Leontopodium alpinum research hotspots and trends in the field of traditional Chinese medicine based on VOSviewer and CiteSpace knowledge mapsOA

Leontopodium alpinum is a traditional alpine medicinal plant,is extensively used in Tibetan and Mongolian medicine.Its applicability in managing febrile epidemics and respiratory conditions requires deeper study,especially given the recurring threat of infectious diseases.This study uses bibliometric analysis to examine the current state and trends in Leontopodium alpinum research,integrates scattered information,and suggests pathways for subsequent investigation.This study retrieved Chinese literature from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI)platform and international literature from the Web of Science(WoS),with data collection finalized by March 2025.CiteSpace 6.3.R1 and VOSviewer 1.6.20 were used to visually analyze publication trends,keyword co-occurrence,and author collaboration networks.The analysis has found that Chinese publications rose markedly after 2003 but declined after 2019,focusing largely on chemical components–such as chlorogenic acid and volatile oils–and pharmacological activities.International output,though smaller,grew steadily,with an emphasis on compositional analysis and antioxidant effects.Keyword clustering revealed that both Chinese and global research expanded from foundational taxonomy to chemical constituents,bioactivity,and environmental adaptation.Core author and institutional analyses identified Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences as domestic leaders,while the University of Innsbruck(Austria)played a leading international role.In conclusion,this study offers the first systematic summary of research and publishing trends for Leontopodium alpinum,while also identifying key knowledge gaps.Future studies should prioritize multi-omics approaches to clarify the mechanisms of its bioactive compounds and advance clinical application.Due to its notable efficacy against febrile epidemics and respiratory diseases,expanded research is strongly recommended–particularly in light of rising infectious disease risks where this species could serve an essential role.