Objective  To explore the research hotspots and development trends of Radix Bupleuri using visual analysis methods.

Methods  This study utilized the China Academic Journal Full-text Database as the Chinese literature source and the Web of Science as the English literature source. CiteSpace software was employed to conduct visualization analysis of publication authors, research institutions, and keyword co-occurrence.

Results  A total of 572 Chinese and 746 English literature were finally included. The analysis results of CiteSpace showed that the number of publications in this field was increasing year by year. In terms of researcher distribution, Zhang Yu was the Chinese scholar with the most publications, while Qin Xuemei had the highest number of publications in English literature. In terms of research institutions, the institution with the most Chinese literature publications was Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, while the institution with the most English literature publications was Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences-Peking Union Medical College. In terms of research hotspots, Chinese literature mainly focused on quality control, while English literature placed more emphasis on related fields such as network pharmacology.

Conclusion  The research enthusiasm of Radix Bupleuri in the field of traditional Chinese medicine continues to rise.Future research should integrate various modern technological means, deeply explore its pharmacological mechanisms, and improve the quality control system, in order to provide a more solid scientific basis for the comprehensive development and clinical application of this medicinal herb.

1. 赵佳琛, 翁倩倩, 张悦, 等. 经典名方中柴胡药材的本草考证[J]. 中国中药杂志, 2020, 45(3): 697-703. [Zhao JC, Weng  QQ, Zhang  Y, et al. Textual research on Bupleuri Radix in Chinese classical prescriptions[J]. China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica, 2020, 45(3): 97-703.] DOI: 10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20191223.102.

2. 孙婷婷, 骆骄阳, 徐媛媛, 等. 柴胡药材质量国际标准现状概述[J]. 中国中药杂志, 2020, 45(20): 4853-4860. [Sun  TT, Luo JY, Xu YY, et al. Summary on international quality standards of Bupleuri Radix[J]. China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica, 2020, 45(20): 4853-4860.] DOI: 10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20200529.201.

3. 曾令权. 中药柴胡品种鉴别研究[J]. 黑龙江医药, 2013, 26(2): 304-305. [Zeng LQ. Identification study of species of Bupleurum[J]. Journal of Chinese Medicinal Materials, 2013, 26(2): 304-305.] DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-2882.2013.02.060.

4. 潘胜利. 中药柴胡的药源调查及商品鉴定[J]. 中药材, 1996, (5): 231-234. [Pan SL. Investigation on resources of "Chaihu" and identification of its commodities[J]. Journal of Chinese Medicinal Materials, 1996, (5): 231-234.] DOI: 10.13863/j.issn1001-4454.1996.05.008.

5. 王砚. 竹叶柴胡和北柴胡品质比较研究[D]. 成都: 成都中医药大学, 2014. https://cdmd.cnki.com.cn/Article/CDMD-10633-1015543403.htm.

6. 孙蓉, 黄伟, 张亚囡, 等. 基于“药性-功效-毒性”相关性的柴胡历代文献挖掘研究[J]. 中国药物警戒, 2010, 7(11): 641-643. [Sun R, Huang W, Zhang YN, et al. Excavation study on the Bupleurum ancient literature based on the relevance of "medicinal property-efficacy toxicity"[J]. Chinese Journal of Pharmacovigilance, 2010, 7(11): 641-643.] DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-8629.2010.11.001.

7. 刘亚旻, 刘新民, 潘瑞乐. 柴胡毒性作用研究进展[J]. 中成药, 2012, 34(6): 1148-1151. [Liu YM, Liu XM, Pan RL. Research progress on toxicity of Bupleurum[J]. Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine, 2012, 34(6): 1148-1151.] DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1001-1528.2012.06.039.

8. 张洋, 石志超, 石鉴泉, 等. 从小柴胡汤事件浅析“古方今病，不相能也”[J]. 中医学报, 2021, 36(6): 1172-1175. [Zhang Y, Shi  ZC, Shi JQ, et al. Discussion on "ancient prescription not coping with modern diseases" from Xiaochaihu decoction incident[J]. Acta Chinese Medicine, 2021, 36(6): 1172-1175.] DOI: 10.16368/j.issn.1674-8999.2021.06.248.

9. Shang JW, Wang JX, Yan PF, et al. Integrative strategy for quality control of Radix Bupleuri based on non-targeted metabolomic profiling and molecular networking[J]. Anal Bioanal Chem, 2023, 415(5): 961-974. DOI: 10.1007/s00216-022-04492-8.

10. Zhao SQ, Zhang YY, Lin JC, et al. Chemical index components and quality control of traditional Chinese medicine: "never change a winning team"? -A case study of volatile oil from Bupleuri Radix[J]. J Pharm Biomed Anal, 2023, 235: 9. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2023.115618.

11. Chen CM. CiteSpace II: detecting and visualizing emerging trends and transient patterns in scientific literature[J]. J Am Soc Inf Sci Technol, 2006, 57(3): 359-377. DOI: 10.1002/asi.20317.

12. 刘来正, 冀小君, 徐丽霞, 等. 黑柴胡质量标准[J]. 中国实验方剂学杂志, 2014, 20(9): 105-109. [Liu LZ, Ji XJ, Xu LX, et al. Quality standards of Bupleuri Smithii Radix[J]. Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae, 2014, 20(9): 105-109.] DOI: 10.13422/ j.cnki.syfix.2014090105.

13. 张妤, 卢紫娟, 邢婕, 等. 晋产黑柴胡和北柴胡化学差异比较研究[J]. 沈阳药科大学学报, 2021, 38(6): 622-628. [Zhang  Y, Lu ZJ, Xing J, et al. Study the chemical differences between Bupleurum smithii and B. chinense from Shanxi[J]. Journal of Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 2021, 38(6): 622-628.] DOI: 10.14066/j.cnki.cn21-1349/r.2019.1219.

14. 李素梅, 陈雪婷, 李养学, 等. 柴芍疏肝颗粒质量标准研究[J]. 江西中医药, 2013, 44(4): 58-60. [Li SM,Chen XT,Li YX,et al. Research on the quality standards of Chaishao Shugan granules[J]. Jiangxi Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2013, 44(4): 58-60.] DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0411-9584.2013.04.029.

15. Qin XM, Dai YT, Liu NQ, et al. Metabolic fingerprinting by 1HNMR for discrimination of the two species used as Radix Bupleuri[J]. Planta Medica, 2012, 78(9): 926-933. DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1298496.

16. Chen JJ, Li T, Qin XM, et al. Integration of non-targeted metabolomics and targeted quantitative analysis to elucidate the synergistic antidepressant effect of Bupleurum chinense DC-paeonia lactiflora pall herb pair by regulating purine metabolism[J]. Front Pharmacol, 2022, 13: 900459. DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.900459.

17. Gao XX, Liang ML, Fang Y, et al. Deciphering the differential effective and toxic responses of Bupleuri Radix following the induction of chronic unpredictable mild stress and in healthy rats based on serum metabolic profiles[J]. 2018, 8: 995. DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00995.

18. Li F, Zhang YB, Wei X, et al. Metabolic profiling of Shu-Yu capsule in rat serum based on metabolic fingerprinting analysis using HPLC-ESI-MSn[J]. Mol Med Rep, 2016, 13(5): 4191-4204. DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2016.5082.

19. 劳梓滢, 蒋智锐, 张靖怡, 等. 小柴胡汤化学成分、药理作用研究进展及质量标志物（Q-Marker）预测[J]. 中草药, 2023, 54(19): 6520-6530. [Lao ZY, Jiang ZR, Zhang JY, et al. Research progress on chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of Xiaochaihu decoction and predictive of its quality marker (Q-Marker)[J]. Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs, 2023, 54(19): 6520-6530.] DOI: 10.7501/j.issn.0253-2670.2023.19.032.

20. 郭艳艳, 王欢欢, 仲子怡, 等. 基于特征图谱和UPLC-Q-TOF/MS技术的北柴胡及其常见混淆品的化学鉴别研究 [J]. 南京中医药大学学报, 2025, 41(1): 66-77. [Guo YY, Wang HH, Zhong ZY, et al. Study on chemical identification of Bupleurum chinense and counterfeits based on characteristic chromatogram and UPLC-Q-TOF/MS technology[J]. Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025, 41(1): 66-77.] DOI: 10.14148/j.issn.1672-0482.2025.0066.

21. 黄冬芳, 韦金玉, 梁洁, 等. 柴胡质量标志物的预测分析 [J]. 中华中医药学刊, 2021, 39(10): 126-132. [Huang DF, Wei  JY, Liang J, et al. Prediction and analysis of Chaihu (Bupleurum chinense) on quality marker[J]. Chinese Archives of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2021, 39(10): 126-132.] DOI: 10.13193/j.issn.1673-7717.2021.10.030.

22. 黄炜忠, 张清民. 一测多评分析方法下柴胡药材中柴胡皂苷a、c、d含量测定研究[J]. , 2018, 36(1): 71-74. [Huang  WZ, Zhang QM. Study on the determination of saponin a, c and d in Bupleurum by multi-evaluation method[J]. Journal of Sichuan of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2018, 36(1): 71-74.] DOI: CNKI:SUN:SCZY.0.2018-01-028.

23. Wang J, Wang W, Pang Y. Saikosaponin a inhibits LPS-induced endometritis in mice through activating Nrf2 signaling pathway[J]. Inflammation, 2018, 41(4): 1508-1514. DOI: 10.1007/s10753-018-0796-5.

24. Chen ZX, Wang XH, Huang WY. Exploring the mechanism of Radix Bupleuri in the treatment of depression combined with SARS-CoV-2 infection through bioinformatics, network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamic simulation[J]. Metab Brain Dis, 2025, 40(1). DOI: 10.1007/s11011-025-01536-7.

25. Zhu Y, Chen X, Rao X, et al. Saikosaponin a ameliorates lipopolysaccharide and d-galactosamine-induced liver injury via activating LXRα[J]. Int Immunopharmacol, 2019, 72: 131-137. DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2019.03.049.

26. Zhang XJ, Liu ZZ, Chen SP, et al. A new discovery: total Bupleurum saponin extracts can inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of colon cancer cells by regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway[J]. J Ethnopharmacol, 2022, 283: 114742. DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114742.