Objective Based on bibliometric methods, to analyze the current research status of Gardenia jasminoides, identify its research hotspots, and predict future research and development trends.

Methods Literature related to Gardenia jasminoides published between January 1, 2000, and March 17, 2025, was retrieved from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and the Web of Science (WOS) Core Collection databases. CiteSpace software was used for visual analysis, including annual publication volume, journal distribution, author and institution collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrence and clustering, and highly cited literature.

Results  A total of 1,544 Chinese articles and 493 English articles were included. The annual publication volume showed an overall upward trend, with significantly more publications in Chinese than in English. Among Chinese journals, the Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae had the highest number of publications (74 articles), while among English journals, the top three were Journal of Ethnopharmacology (21 articles), Natural Product Research (17 articles), and Food Chemistry (16 articles). The core authors domestically and internationally were Luo Guangming and Chen Yang, and core research institutions were  Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, respectively. Research hotspots were mainly focused on chemical components, pharmacological effects, quality standards and extraction processes, formula compatibility, and clinical applications. There are differences between Chinese and English studies. Chinese research focuses more on TCM applications and formula compatibility analysis, while English research emphasizes chemical component extraction and separation, activity verification, and molecular mechanism studies.

Conclusion The research hotspots of Gardenia jasminoides are concentrated on its pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory and antidepressant actions and their underlying mechanisms. Future research can further integrate modern technologies such as data mining and network pharmacology to explore the material basis and mechanisms of Gardenia jasminoides's efficacy in depth, while applying techniques like biosynthesis to enhance the development and application of its products.

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