Investigating the global research landscape, barriers, and facilitators of scientific productivity in ethnomedicinal research in diabetes mellitus

Background: Currently, the number of ethnomedicinal studies in diabetes has increased, resulting in more medical data and treatment strategies using traditional medicine for diabetes. Bibliometric analysis can be applied to understand better the research landscape of ethnomedicinal studies related to diabetes. Aims: This study described the global research landscape, research hotspots, and future direction of ethnomedicinal studies in diabetes. Methods: The Scopus database retrieved articles related to ethnomedicinal studies in diabetes. The search was conducted from inception to 2021. Bibliometric information was extracted from the database, and network visualization was performed using VOSviewer software. Results: This study showed a continuous increase in ethnomedicinal research related to diabetes. China, India, and Bangladesh produced the most significant number of papers in this field. The top journals that published ethnomedicinal studies related to diabetes include the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, the American Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, and Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Lastly, gross domestic product (GDP), GDP per capita, research funding, researchers and physicians per million people, and collaborations with other countries were correlated to the scientific productivity in ethnomedicinal research in diabetes. Conclusion: Leaders and authorities in different countries, especially those that still heavily rely on traditional medicine, consider increasing their financial support to physicians and researchers and foster more collaborations with other countries to facilitate ethnomedicinal studies related to diabetes. This endeavor may help find herbal medicines that may help control and manage diabetes, especially in low-resource settings.