Bhasma Research Through the Lens of Modern Pharmaceutical Science: A Bibliometric and Thematic Analysis (1980–2024)

Abstract

Bhasmas are calcined metallic and mineral formulations used in traditional medicine and pharmaceutics that have attracted increasing scientific interest due to their nano-scale properties and potential pharmacological applications. However, their integration into mainstream pharmaceutical research remains limited by challenges related to standardization, safety validation, clinical evidence, and regulatory acceptance. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric and thematic analysis of global Bhasmas research published between 1980 and 2024, with a pharmaceutical science–oriented perspective. Peer-reviewed publications indexed in PubMed and Scopus were retrieved using predefined Boolean search strategies, and a total of 407 eligible documents were analyzed using VOSviewer (version 1.6.20) to evaluate publication trends, collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrence, MeSH term clustering, citation patterns, and journal co-citation structures. The results indicate that India accounts for over 90% of global research output, with limited international collaboration involving the United States, the United Kingdom, and South Korea. Thematic analysis revealed a predominance of pre-clinical studies focused on metallic nanoparticles and animal models, with relatively few human studies. Significant gaps were identified in toxicological evaluation, pharmacokinetics, mechanistic understanding, and regulatory alignment. Overall, the findings highlight the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and adoption of modern pharmaceutical and analytical frameworks to enhance the translational relevance and global acceptance of Bhasmas-based formulations.

Introduction

India’s public health ecosystem has increasingly emphasized the integration of traditional systems of medicine with contemporary healthcare services. Within this framework, Ayurveda, one of the principal systems under AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy), has received renewed scientific attention, particularly with respect to its distinctive pharmaceutical preparations such as Bhasma. ¹ Recent reviews highlighting the therapeutic and pharmacological relevance of traditional Indian medicinal formulations further underscore the need for systematic scientific evaluation of classical preparations, including Bhasma. ² Following the establishment of the Ministry of AYUSH in 2014, ³ national research bodies such as the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) have intensified efforts toward pharmacological validation, safety assessment, and clinical evaluation of Ayurveda medicines. ⁴ Policy initiatives such as the National AYUSH Mission ⁵ and the National Health Policy (2017) ⁶ have further facilitated the standardization and potential mainstreaming of Ayurveda formulations, including Bhasma, within public health programs.

Bhasma, ⁷ produced through elaborate incineration processes (shodhana ⁸ and marana ⁹ ), has traditionally been used in Ayurveda for treating chronic and systemic diseases. Formulations such as Swarna Bhasma^10,11 (gold), Abhraka^12,13 Bhasma (mica), and Tamra^14–17 Bhasma (copper), Loha ¹⁸ Bhasma (iron) have garnered increasing research interest due to their potential bioavailability, nano-scale particle size, and immunomodulatory, anticancer,^19,20 and anti-hyperglycemic ²¹ properties. Despite this growing interest, concerns related to safety, standardization, and reproducibility persist, highlighting the need for a structured evaluation of the scientific literature to understand how research in this domain has evolved over time.

Bibliometric analysis provides a robust, data-driven approach to assess the growth, structure, and thematic development of scholarly literature. Visualization tools such as VOSviewer (Visualization of Similarities viewer),^22,23 enable the mapping of co-authorship networks, institutional collaboration, keyword co-occurrence, and citation patterns, making them particularly suitable for multidisciplinary domains such as AYUSH research. In this context, the present study undertakes a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of Bhasma-related research published between 1980 and 2024, using data retrieved from PubMed and Scopus. The study aims to elucidate publication trends, collaborative structures, and thematic evolution in Bhasma research, thereby identifying research gaps and informing future scientific, clinical, and policy-oriented directions in traditional medicine and pharmaceutics. Although bibliometric analyses have been reported for Ayurveda and nanomedicine in a broader sense, focused mapping of Bhasma research over an extended four-decade period with a pharmaceutical science–oriented interpretation remains limited.

Scientific Relevance of Bhasma Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences

From a pharmaceutical science perspective, Bhasma represents complex metal-based drug systems that challenge conventional paradigms of formulation, safety evaluation, and regulatory classification. Unlike synthetic pharmaceuticals, Bhasma preparations involve multistep processing that influences particle size, elemental speciation, surface chemistry, and biological interactions. Understanding how these characteristics are investigated and reported in the scientific literature is critical for assessing their pharmaceutical relevance. Bibliometric analysis offers a structured approach to evaluate whether existing research addresses key pharmaceutical requirements such as reproducibility, toxicological safety, pharmacokinetics, clinical validation, and regulatory alignment. By systematically mapping research trends and thematic evolution, the present study provides evidence-based insights relevant to pharmaceutical education, translational research, and future investigative priorities. The contribution of this study is primarily descriptive, offering a structured synthesis of long-term research trends and thematic patterns in Bhasma-related literature rather than proposing novel bibliometric methodologies.

Methodology

Literature Search

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed and Scopus to identify peer-reviewed publications related to Bhasma research. Searches were performed on 14 August 2025, covering publications from 1 January 1980 to 31 December 2024. PubMed was selected for its biomedical focus and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)-based indexing, while Scopus was used to ensure broader coverage of pharmaceutical and interdisciplinary literature. In PubMed, an inclusive search strategy was employed using the syntax Bhasma [All Fields], without applying filters for study design or subject area. The search strategy was intentionally centered on the term “Bhasma” to ensure specificity and direct thematic relevance. Broader terms such as “rasaushadhi,” “herbo-mineral formulations,” or “metallic preparations” were not included, as they are used inconsistently across databases and may retrieve heterogeneous records not specific to Bhasma. This approach was adopted to maintain precision in bibliometric mapping. This search retrieved 204 records. One record was excluded due to incomplete bibliographic information, resulting in 203 PubMed records included for analysis. Only English-language publications were retained. In Scopus, the corresponding search strategy was TITLE-ABS-KEY (“Bhasma”), with identical time-period and language limits applied. A total of 212 records were retrieved, of which eight records were excluded during screening because they were not relevant to the thematic scope of the study, resulting in 204 Scopus records.

Following retrieval, title, and abstract screening were performed independently by two reviewers to assess relevance to Bhasma-related medicinal research. Full-text articles were subsequently evaluated for eligibility based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Discrepancies between reviewers were resolved through discussion and consensus. Mendeley reference manager and Microsoft Excel were used for record management, screening organization, and tracking of inclusion and exclusion decisions. No automated or machine-learning-based screening tools were employed. The study selection process was guided by predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure consistency and reproducibility. The screening outcomes are summarized using a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)-style flow diagram (Figure 1) to enhance transparency in the identification and selection of records; however, the study does not follow a systematic review framework. PubMed and Scopus were analyzed as independent datasets to preserve their distinct indexing structures and metadata characteristics. PubMed emphasizes biomedical literature with MeSH-based classification, whereas Scopus provides broader interdisciplinary and pharmaceutical science coverage. Accordingly, the present study adopts a comparative bibliometric approach, where insights are interpreted within each database rather than as a merged deduplicated corpus. The reported total of 407 documents represents parallel database-specific analyses and should not be interpreted as a unique combined dataset.

Figure 1.

PRISMA Flow Diagram Illustrating Identification, Screening, Eligibility, and Inclusion of Publications Related to Bhasma Research Retrieved from PubMed and Scopus (1980–2024).

Inclusion Criteria

The bibliometric analysis included peer-reviewed journal articles focused on Bhasma research published between 1980 and 2024. Records were retrieved from PubMed and Scopus to ensure comprehensive coverage of biomedical, pharmaceutical, and interdisciplinary literature. Given the relatively limited volume of indexed publications explicitly addressing Bhasma, an inclusive selection approach was adopted. Accordingly, all records directly relevant to the thematic scope of Bhasma research were considered for analysis. Eligible publications comprised original research articles, review articles, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses that addressed Bhasma formulations in the context of pharmacological evaluation, toxicological assessment, clinical application, pharmaceutical characterization, standardization, or historical relevance within Ayurveda. Only English-language publications were included to ensure consistency in bibliometric indicators such as keywords, authorship, citation patterns, and institutional affiliations. The finalized records were subjected to bibliometric mapping and analysis using VOSviewer software. The inclusion criteria were defined to ensure thematic relevance to Bhasma research and to capture publications addressing pharmacological, toxicological, clinical, pharmaceutical, or analytical aspects within the scope of this bibliometric study. All document types, including original research articles, review articles, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses, were included to capture the complete intellectual and thematic structure of Bhasma research. This inclusive approach reflects the broader scholarly landscape rather than being limited to primary experimental studies.

Exclusion Criteria

Studies were excluded if they did not directly address Bhasma in their content. Articles published outside the defined time frame (1980–2024), in languages other than English without an English abstract, or those lacking complete bibliographic metadata were also excluded. Non-peer-reviewed literature was not considered. Additionally, superficial references to Bhasma were omitted to maintain the rigor and thematic relevance of the review.

Methodological Robustness and Reproducibility Considerations

The combined use of PubMed and Scopus databases ensures broad coverage of biomedical, pharmaceutical, and interdisciplinary research relevant to Bhasma. VOSviewer was selected for analysis due to its validated application in mapping scientific collaboration, thematic structures, and citation relationships. While bibliometric analysis does not assess experimental quality or clinical efficacy directly, it provides a quantitative framework to evaluate research maturity, disciplinary integration, and translational readiness. In VOSviewer analyses, minimum occurrence thresholds were applied based on frequency criteria to retain the most relevant and interpretable items within each network. This approach was adopted to avoid overly dense visualizations and to ensure clarity in mapping collaboration and thematic structures, particularly given the dataset size. Default clustering resolution parameters of VOSviewer were applied. The insights are particularly relevant for pharmaceutical sciences, where evidence progression from formulation development to clinical application is essential. Normalization techniques such as fractional counting or citation normalization by year were not applied, as the present analysis was intended to provide descriptive insights into publication trends, collaboration patterns, and thematic structures rather than normalized bibliometric performance comparisons. The use of PRISMA in this study is limited to illustrating the study selection workflow and does not imply systematic review methodology such as risk-of-bias assessment or meta-analytic synthesis.

Results

Parallel bibliometric visualizations were generated separately for PubMed and Scopus datasets to enable comparative analysis across databases. Accordingly, similar types of network maps are presented for each dataset, reflecting database-specific patterns rather than duplication.

PubMed Database

PubMed is a free, publicly accessible database maintained by the US National Library of Medicine. It provides access to a vast collection of biomedical literature, including research articles, reviews, and clinical studies from trusted scientific journals worldwide. ²⁴ Upon search, a total of 203 documents related to Bhasma were retrieved from the PubMed database for the period 1980–2024 and analyzed using VOSviewer for bibliometric and visual mapping.

Co-authorship Network Visualization (PubMed, 1980–2024)

The co-authorship network visualization generated using VOSviewer based on PubMed-indexed publications on Bhasma research between 1980 and 2024 is shown in Figure 2. Each node in the network represents an individual author, with the size of the node indicating the number of publications authored. The lines connecting nodes denote co-authorship relationships, and the thickness of these lines reflects the strength of collaboration. Among 634 authors, the prominent authors such as Prajapati P. K., Patgiri B. J., and Sarkar P. K. form a clustered group, suggesting recurring collaborative associations within the dataset. In contrast, authors such as Jha C. B. and Patgiri Biswajyoti appear as isolated nodes, suggesting limited or no co-authorship within the dataset analyzed. The color clusters represent different research collaboration groups, highlighting the fragmented nature of author collaborations in the Bhasma research domain. This figure underscores the need for more integrated and interdisciplinary research efforts to enhance scientific synergy in the field of Ayurveda metallurgical formulations. The network consists of multiple clusters with varying link strengths, reflecting differing levels of collaboration intensity among authors. The co-authorship network comprises four clusters, with varying link strength patterns indicating differences in collaboration among authors.

Figure 2.

Co-authorship Network Visualization of Authors in Bhasma Research (PubMed, 1980–2024).

Institutional Collaboration Based on Co-authorship Data (PubMed, 1980–2024)

Figure 3 illustrates the institutional co-authorship network in Bhasma research generated using VOSviewer, where node size corresponds to institutional publication output and connecting links indicate collaborative relationships. Among the 343 identified institutions, the academic departments such as botany, geology, and chemistry demonstrate interconnections, indicating potential interdisciplinary associations in Bhasma-related investigations. The Postgraduate Institute of Science also emerges as a key collaborative node, suggesting its role in facilitating cross-departmental research interactions. Overall, the network highlights an emerging interdepartmental framework that integrates botanical, geological, chemical and applied science perspectives, underscoring the multidisciplinary foundation necessary for the scientific evaluation and validation of Bhasma formulations. These entities represent academic departments and research units rather than standalone institutions, and are interpreted accordingly in the network. The network structure is represented by a single cluster, with limited link strength patterns indicating minimal interconnected institutional collaboration within the dataset. Comparable institutional collaboration patterns are also observed in the Scopus dataset (Figure 7), with variations reflecting differences in database coverage.

Figure 3.

Institutional Co-authorship Network in Bhasma Research (PubMed, 1980–2024).

Keyword Co-occurrence Network (PubMed, 1980–2024)

Figure 4 presents the keyword co-occurrence network for Bhasma-related publications generated using VOSviewer. Among the 788 extracted keywords, “medicine, ayurvedic” emerges as the most central and frequently connected term, linking strongly with descriptors such as animals, humans, male, female, rats, and mice, indicating extensive use of both pre-clinical and clinical research models in Bhasma studies. The prominence of material related keywords, including gold, lead, and drug combinations, reflects sustained research interest in the metallurgical and pharmacological characteristics of Bhasma formulations. The clustering pattern reveals two dominant thematic groups, with one cluster primarily associated with experimental and biological investigations and another emphasizing human studies and elemental composition. Collectively, this network highlights the co-occurrence of traditional Ayurveda concepts and modern biomedical research themes within the Bhasma literature. The keyword and MeSH term distribution also indicates that a substantial proportion of studies are based on animal models (e.g., rats, mice), whereas comparatively fewer studies explicitly involve human subjects. This suggests that Bhasma research remains predominantly pre-clinical in nature, with limited transition toward clinical investigation. The keyword network comprises two clusters, with link strength patterns reflecting associations among frequently occurring thematic terms. A similar keyword structure is observed in the Scopus dataset (Figure 9), indicating consistent thematic patterns across databases.

Figure 4.

Keyword Co-occurrence Network in Bhasma Research (PubMed, 1980–2024).

MeSH Keyword Co-occurrence Network (PubMed, 1980–2024)

Figure 5 depicts the thematic clustering of MeSH keywords associated with Bhasma-related publications. Among the 340 MeSH terms identified, “medicine, ayurvedic” appears as the most central keyword, showing strong associations with animals, rats, male, and female, thereby forming a dominant cluster reflective of pre-clinical research emphasis. A separate cluster centered on humans, mice, gold, and metal nanoparticles highlights an emerging focus on translational research and materials science approaches. Additionally, the distinct clustering of India underscores the geographical concentration of research output, consistent with institutional trends summarized in Table 1. Overall, the clustering pattern illustrates the thematic co-occurrence of classical Ayurveda concepts with experimental models, gender-based evaluations, and evolving nanomedicine-oriented investigations in Bhasma research. The MeSH-based network is organized into three clusters, with relatively strong link strength patterns indicating associations among biomedical indexing terms.

Figure 5.

Thematic Clustering of MeSH Keywords in Bhasma Research Using VOSviewer (PubMed, 1980–2024)

Table 1.

Leading MeSH Keywords in Bhasma Research (PubMed, 1980–2024).

Sr. No.	MeSH Keyword	Occurrences	Total Link Strength
1.	Medicine, ayurvedic	53	136
2.	Animals	43	130
3.	Male	22	76
4.	Rats	20	67
5.	Humans	27	59
6.	Gold	15	57
7.	Female	16	55
8.	Mice	13	42
9.	Metal nanoparticles	12	40
10.	India	13	36

Scopus Database

Scopus is a comprehensive abstract and citation database maintained by Elsevier. It covers a wide range of peer-reviewed literature across science, technology, medicine, social sciences, and the arts and humanities, making it a valuable tool for academic research and literature analysis. ²⁵ Upon search, a total of 204 documents related to Bhasma were retrieved from the Scopus database for the period 1980–2024 and analyzed using VOSviewer for bibliometric and visual mapping.

Co-authorship Network Visualization (Scopus, 1980–2024)

Figure 6 presents the co-authorship network of researchers involved in Bhasma-related studies, constructed using Scopus data spanning 1980–2024 and visualized through VOSviewer. Among the 718 identified authors, the network demonstrates a fragmented collaborative structure, with many contributors operating independently or within small, loosely connected groups. A prominent cluster comprising Krishnaswamy Sridharan, Pemiah Brindha, and Krishnan Uma Maheswari reflects a clustered collaboration structure within the dataset, whereas authors such as Jha C. B., Sarkar Prasanta Kumar, and Prajapati P. K. appear as largely independent contributors with limited co-authorship linkages (Table 2). Overall, the clustering pattern indicates limited integration across author groups, highlighting the potential for enhanced inter-institutional and interdisciplinary collaboration to strengthen the scientific advancement of Bhasma research. The co-authorship network comprises four clusters, with varying link strength patterns reflecting differences in collaboration across author groups. Compared to the PubMed-based co-authorship network (Figure 2), the Scopus dataset (Figure 6) demonstrates similar structural characteristics, with variations in author connectivity reflecting database-specific coverage.

Figure 6.

Co-authorship Network Visualization of Authors in Bhasma Research (Scopus, 1980–2024).

Table 2.

Leading Authors in Bhasma Research (Scopus, 1980–2024).

Sr. No.	Authors	Documents	Citations	Total Link Strength
1.	Krishnan, Umamaheswari	5	94	14
2.	Krishnaswamy, Sridharan	5	94	14
3.	Sethuraman, Swaminathan	5	94	14
4.	Pemiah, Brindha	5	103	12
5.	Bellare, Jayesh	4	34	3
6.	Gudi, Ramachrya	4	28	3
7.	Prajapati, B.	5	98	2
8.	Ravishnkar, B.	4	47	2
9.	Jadar, P. G.	4	8	0
10.	Jha, C. B.	6	13	0
11.	Sarkar, Prasantakumar	5	134	0
12.	Vohora, S. B.	4	101	0

Institutional Collaboration Network (Scopus, 1980–2024)

Figure 7 depicts the institutional collaboration network in Bhasma research based on Scopus-indexed publications from 1980 to 2024 and visualized using VOSviewer. Among the 472 identified institutions, the network demonstrates a markedly fragmented structure, with several entities—including the Center for Nanobioscience, AGH, Health Care Division, Emami Ltd., Department of Rasashastra, and the Center for Healthcare Science—appearing as isolated or weakly connected nodes. Despite participation from both academic and industry-based institutions, including centers for advanced research and Rasashastra departments across different faculties, the network shows multiple weakly connected or isolated nodes (Table 3). Overall, the pattern indicates insufficient inter-institutional integration, highlighting substantial scope for strengthening coordinated, multidisciplinary, and translational research efforts in the scientific study of Ayurveda Bhasma formulations. The institutional network consists of eight clusters, with link strength patterns indicating fragmented collaboration across institutions. These patterns are broadly consistent with those observed in the PubMed dataset (Figure 3).

Figure 7.

Institutional Collaboration Network in Bhasma Research (Scopus, 1980–2024).

Table 3.

Leading Institutions in Research on Bhasma (Scopus, 1980–2024).

Sr. No.	Organization	Documents	Citations	Total Link Strength
1.	Healthcare Division, Emami Limited, Kolkata, India	2	9	4
2.	Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development, Imphal, India	2	9	4
3.	School of Natural Product Studies, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata	2	9	4
4.	Center for Advanced Research in Indian System of Medicine (CARISM), SASTRA University, Thanjavur	2	39	2
5.	Center for Nanotechnology and Advanced Biomaterials, Tanjavur	2	39	2
6.	Department of Chemical Engineering, SASTRA University, Thanjavur	2	17	2
7.	Wadhwani Research Center for Bioengineering	2	17	2
8.	Center for Nanobioscience, Agarkar Research Institute, Pune	2	45	0
9.	Department of Rasashastra and Bhaishajyakalpana	2	54	0
10.	Department of Rasashastra, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU	2	5	0

Country-wise Collaboration Network (Scopus, 1980–2024)

The international collaboration network in Bhasma research is shown in Figure 8. Each node represents a country contributing to Bhasma-related publications, with node size indicating the volume of research output and the connecting lines showing collaborative links between nations. Out of 19 countries, India emerges as the central hub, dominating both in terms of publication volume and collaborative activity. International partnerships are visible with the United States, the United Kingdom, and South Korea, although the connections remain relatively sparse (Table 4). The thickness of the links suggests moderate collaboration intensity, especially between India and the UK or the US. The country-wise number of documents published and the corresponding citations are presented in Table 4. This visualization highlights the primarily India-centric nature of Bhasma research while also pointing to emerging global interest and the potential for expanded international cooperation in advancing scientific understanding of traditional Ayurveda formulations. The country-wise collaboration network is structured into two clusters, with link strength patterns indicating limited but emerging international collaboration.

Table 4.

Country-wise Distribution of Documents, Citations, and Collaboration Strength of Bhasma Research (Scopus, 1980–2024).

Sr. No.	Name of Country	Number of Documents	Number of Citations	Total Link Strength
1.	India	194	2023	9
2.	United Kingdom	4	36	4
3.	United States	5	188	3
4.	South Korea	2	1	2
5.	United Arab Emirates	2	3	2
6.	Sri Lanka	3	33	0
7.	Canada	1	48	1
8.	China	1	29	1
9.	Italy	1	24	1
10.	Saudi Arabia	1	12	1

Figure 8.

Country-wise Collaboration Network in Bhasma Research (Scopus, 1980–2024).

Keyword Co-occurrence Network (Scopus, 1980–2024)

Figure 9 illustrates the keyword co-occurrence network derived from Scopus-indexed Bhasma-related publications. Among the 2,854 identified keywords, “Ayurveda” and “ayurvedic drug” constitute the central thematic core, showing strong associations with terms such as “unclassified drug,” “controlled study,” “article,” and “Bhasma.” The frequent linkage with keywords including “nonhuman,” “animal experiment,” and “drug formulation” highlights the experimental and pharmacological orientation of the research landscape. In addition, the occurrence of terms such as “particle size,” “physical chemistry,” and “human” reflects increasing thematic association between traditional medicine and modern analytical and clinical approaches (Table 5). The frequent occurrence of terms such as “nonhuman,” “animal experiment,” and comparatively lower representation of “human” further supports the predominance of pre-clinical and experimental studies within the Bhasma research landscape. The network structure comprises multiple clusters, with total link strength values indicating the degree of association between frequently occurring keywords. The clustering structure further delineates distinct thematic domains encompassing clinical investigations, experimental models, and formulation science, underscoring the breadth and complexity of contemporary Bhasma research. The keyword network comprises two clusters, with relatively strong link strength patterns reflecting associations among frequently occurring research themes. Comparable thematic structures are also evident in the PubMed-based analysis (Figure 4).

Figure 9.

Keyword Co-occurrence Network in Bhasma Research (Scopus, 1980–2024).

Table 5.

Leading Keywords in Bhasma Research (Scopus, 1980–2024).

Sr. No.	Keyword	Occurrences	Total Link Strength
1.	Ayurveda	160	611
2.	Article	125	566
3.	Unclassified drug	107	528
4.	Ayurvedic drug	90	450
5.	Nonhuman	72	381
6.	Controlled study	63	344
7.	Particle size	46	232
8.	Animal experiment	38	228
9.	Human	56	221
10.	Physical chemistry	38	216

Citation Analysis (Scopus, 1980–2024)

Citation analysis revealed the most frequently cited articles and authors, highlighting influential contributions to the research regarding Bhasma. It also helped identify core journals and emerging focus areas within the field.

Top-cited Articles (Scopus, 1980–2024)

The citation network of the most influential articles in Bhasma research, based on Scopus data from 1980 to 2024 and visualized using VOSviewer, highlights key scholarly contributions. Each node in the network represents a top-cited publication, labeled with the first author’s surname and year of publication. The size of the nodes corresponds to citation impact, while the connecting lines indicate citation relationships among these significant works. Mukherjee et al. (2017) ²⁶ has been shown to have the maximum number of citations, though notably, Bhowmick (2009) ²⁷ appears as a central node, indicating strong citation ties with both earlier and later studies such as Sarkar (2010) ²⁸ and Pal (2014). ⁷ The network spans more than a decade, featuring works such as Dwivedi (2012) ²⁹ and Khoobchandani (2020) ³⁰ that have sustained scholarly attention. This visualization emphasizes the foundational and influential nature of certain studies within the evolving field of Bhasma research.

Journal-wise Publication Trends (Scopus, 1980–2024)

Figure 10 presents the journal co-citation network for Bhasma-related research based on Scopus-indexed publications from 1980 to 2024. Among the 93 identified journals, the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine occupies a central and highly influential position, reflecting its frequent co-citation within the Bhasma research literature. Strong co-citation linkages with journals such as the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Indian Journal of Pharmacology, and Medical and Pharmacology Journal indicate sustained interdisciplinary engagement across Ayurveda, pharmacology, and ethnopharmacology (Table 6). Overall, the co-citation pattern reveals the intellectual structure of the field, highlighting core publication venues and cross-disciplinary linkages that shape the scientific discourse on Bhasma research. The co-citation network is organized into two clusters, with link strength patterns indicating the degree of interconnection among key publication sources.

Figure 10.

Journal Co-citation Network Related to Bhasma Research (Scopus, 1980–2024).

Table 6.

Leading Sources in Research on Bhasma (Scopus, 1980–2024).

Sr. No.	Source	Documents	Citations	Total Link Strength
1.	Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine	30	133	11
2.	Journal of Ethnopharmacology	6	260	8
3.	International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences	5	32	7
4.	Indian Journal of Experimental Biology	4	70	5
5.	Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences	8	82	5
6.	Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological, and Chemical Sciences	4	16	5
7.	Materials Today	4	26	3
8.	Biomedical and Pharmacology Journal	6	8	2
9.	Indian Journal of Pharmacology	4	63	2
10.	International Journal of Research in Ayurveda and Pharmacy	19	81	2

Temporal Trend in Publications (Scopus, 1980–2024)

Figure 11 illustrates the annual distribution of Scopus-indexed publications on Bhasma research from 1980 to 2024. Publication output shows a marked increase from 2010 onward, with peak activity observed in 2012 and 2020, each recording 19 publications. This upward trend reflects growing scientific engagement with Bhasma, potentially influenced by advances in analytical methodologies, expanding institutional participation, and increased emphasis on evidence-based Ayurveda. The sustained publication levels in recent years further indicate continued research momentum in this traditionally rooted yet scientifically advancing field.

Figure 11.

Trend Showing the Number of Bhasma-related Research Publications Per Year from (Scopus, 1980–2024).

Discussion

From a pharmaceutical sciences perspective, the predominance of pre-clinical and animal-based studies in the literature suggests that Bhasma research remains largely concentrated at an exploratory stage. The limited representation of human studies, pharmacokinetic investigations, and standardized toxicological assessments indicates areas that warrant further research, rather than confirming barriers to regulatory acceptance or clinical translation. It is important to note that these observations are based on patterns in published literature and do not represent direct evaluation of experimental evidence or clinical efficacy. Similar patterns have been observed in bibliometric evaluations of other traditional metal-based medicinal systems, underscoring the need for harmonized evaluation frameworks that can better align traditional formulations with contemporary pharmaceutical research standards.

To the best of our knowledge, this study represents a comprehensive bibliometric and thematic analysis of Bhasma research spanning four decades, with a specific focus on pharmaceutical, toxicological, and translational dimensions of the literature retrieved from PubMed and Scopus. Through visualization of author collaboration, institutional networks, and keyword trends using VOSviewer, the study provides insight into how scientific inquiry into Bhasma has evolved over time. Author and institutional co-authorship networks (Figures 2 and 7) reveal fragmented but emerging collaborative structures, while journal co-citation analysis (Figure 10) highlights the central role of integrative and ethnopharmacological journals. Collectively, these patterns reflect growing academic interest while also suggesting potential for increased interdisciplinary collaboration. The predominance of animal-related keywords over human-related terms indicates that a large proportion of Bhasma research is concentrated at the pre-clinical stage. Additionally, temporal publication trends suggest a gradual shift toward analytical characterization, nanotechnology-based investigations, and interdisciplinary approaches in recent years, reflecting evolving research methodologies in this domain. These interpretations are derived from parallel analyses of PubMed and Scopus datasets and do not represent a unified deduplicated dataset.

Investigation of Research Gap Regarding the Integration of Bhasma into the Scientific Research

Despite advances in Ayurveda pharmaceutics and increasing scholarly attention to traditional formulations, the bibliometric findings indicate that the scientific integration of Bhasma remains uneven across research domains. Analysis of publications from 1980 to 2024 reveals persistent gaps in areas such as standardization, mechanistic studies, clinical investigation, and regulatory-oriented research. These observations are derived from publication trends rather than experimental outcomes and highlight domains where future research efforts may be prioritized. Table 7 summarizes the key research gaps identified across scientific and regulatory dimensions.

Table 7.

Research Gaps and Methodological Limitations in Advanced Bhasma Research.

Sr. No.	Category	Research Gap
1.	Standardization and quality control	Lack of universally accepted protocols for standardization, particle size analysis, and reproducibility across laboratories.
2.	Toxicological evaluation	The literature indicates limited reporting of long-term safety data and dose-response toxicity studies under scientifically controlled conditions.
3.	Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics	Limited understanding of the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of Bhasma formulations in vivo.
4.	Mechanism of action	Published studies show limited exploration of the mechanistic aspects and biochemical pathways involved in Bhasma therapeutic effects.
5.	Analytical characterization	Inadequate application of advanced analytical tools (e.g., TEM, SEM-EDX, XRD, ICP-MS) to determine elemental composition and structural integrity.
6.	Clinical validation	Scarcity of robust clinical trials adhering to CONSORT guidelines for efficacy and safety assessment of Bhasma in disease models.
7.	Regulatory framework	The available literature reflects a limited focus on global regulatory recognition and classification of Bhasma products, leading to limited international acceptance.
8.	Interdisciplinary collaboration	Weak collaboration between traditional Ayurveda experts and modern scientists leads to fragmented research approaches.
9.	Ethnopharmacological context	Insufficient integration of historical and regional knowledge of Bhasma usage into contemporary research designs.
10.	Educational and training gaps	Lack of structured scientific training modules for Ayurveda practitioners and researchers on modern research methodologies applicable to Bhasma.
11.	Reproducibility of classical processes	Inadequate scientific validation of traditional shodhana and marana steps, leading to variability in physicochemical outcomes.
12.	Comparative formulation studies	Lack of comparative studies between classical Bhasma preparation methods and modified/industrial processes.
13.	Systems Biology perspective	Absence of systems-level studies integrating omics data (proteomics, metabolomics) to explain holistic effects of Bhasma.
14.	Environmental and sustainability aspects	Limited assessment of environmental impact, sustainability, and ethical sourcing of minerals and metals used in Bhasma.
15.	Data transparency and reporting	Poor adherence to standardized reporting frameworks limits reproducibility and meta-analytical synthesis.

TEM, transmission electron microscopy; SEM-EDX, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis; XRD, X-ray diffraction; ICP-MS, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry; CONSORT, Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials.

Recommended Research Questions for Scholarly Study

To address the gaps identified through bibliometric mapping, it is important to outline strategic research directions that can guide future investigations. Based on thematic clustering and keyword co-occurrence patterns, Table 8 presents priority research areas along with representative research questions. These suggested directions are intended to support interdisciplinary inquiry and evidence-oriented exploration of Bhasma within modern scientific paradigms, rather than to imply established clinical or regulatory readiness.

Table 8.

Proposed Research Questions for Advancing the Integration of Bhasma in Scientific Research.

Sr. No.	Research Focus Area	Recommended Research Questions
1.	Standardization and quality control	What are the most reproducible physico-chemical parameters for ensuring batch-to-batch consistency in Bhasma preparation?
2.	Safety and toxicity studies	What are the long-term toxicological profiles of different Bhasmas in pre-clinical and clinical models? Can modern in vitro and in vivo assays reliably assess safety?
3.	Mechanism of action	Through which molecular and cellular pathways do Bhasma exert their therapeutic effects?
4.	Clinical efficacy	What are the clinical outcomes of standardized Bhasma formulations in randomized controlled trials?
5.	Nano characterization and material science	How do the particle size, shape, and surface properties of Bhasma influence their bioavailability and efficacy?
6.	Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability	How are the metallic and mineral contents of Bhasma absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted in the body?
7.	Regulatory framework and guidelines	What guidelines are needed to harmonize the manufacturing and evaluation of Bhasma for global acceptance?
8.	Integrative and interdisciplinary approaches	How can collaborative research between Ayurveda, materials science, and pharmacology lead to new insights into Bhasma-based therapeutics?
9.	Data science and bibliometrics	What trends, hotspots, and thematic clusters emerge from bibliometric analysis of global Bhasma research, and how can they inform policy and funding decisions?
10.	Process validation and classical methods	How do traditional shodhana and marana steps influence elemental speciation and biological activity of Bhasma?
11.	Comparative pharmaceutics	How do classical and modern manufacturing techniques differ in terms of safety, efficacy, and reproducibility?
12.	Omics and systems Biology	Can transcriptomic, proteomic, or metabolomic profiling elucidate systemic responses to Bhasma administration?
13.	Environmental safety and sustainability	What are the environmental and ecological implications of large-scale Bhasma production, and how can sustainable practices be ensured?
14.	Reporting standards and research transparency	What minimum reporting guidelines should be developed specifically for Bhasma-focused experimental and clinical studies?

Implications for Pharmaceutical Research and Drug Development

The bibliometric patterns observed in this study offer insights relevant to pharmaceutical research and education by highlighting underrepresented areas such as standardized analytical characterization, pharmacokinetic evaluation, and structured toxicity reporting. While bibliometric analysis does not generate primary safety or efficacy data, the identified publication trends may inform future pharmaceutical research priorities. For pharmaceutical scientists, Bhasma represents a potential area of interest within metal-based and nano-enabled pharmaceutics; however, advancement in this domain would require systematic experimental validation, adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices, and rigorously designed clinical studies. Addressing these aspects may support the responsible exploration of Bhasma-based formulations within complementary or integrative pharmaceutical research frameworks.

Limitations

This study is subject to certain limitations. The analysis was restricted to English-language publications indexed in PubMed and Scopus, which may exclude relevant studies published in regional, non-English, or non-indexed Ayurveda journals. The inclusion of multiple document types, including review articles and meta-analyses, may influence citation-based indicators and network structures, and the findings should therefore be interpreted as representing the overall research landscape rather than exclusively primary research activity. The use of a focused search strategy based primarily on the term “Bhasma” may have excluded studies indexed under broader or alternative terminologies, which could be considered in future expanded bibliometric analyses. As a result, country-level publication patterns, particularly the observed predominance of India, may partly reflect database indexing bias in addition to actual research activity. Bibliometric indicators reflect publication trends and research focus but do not directly assess experimental rigor, clinical efficacy, or safety outcomes. Furthermore, the heterogeneity of Bhasma formulations and preparation methods limits the ability to directly relate bibliometric findings to specific pharmaceutical performance characteristics.

Conclusion

This four-decade bibliometric review (1980–2024) provides a comprehensive overview of publication trends, collaborative networks, and thematic evolution in Bhasma research. A total of 407 documents (203 from PubMed and 204 from Scopus), analyzed as parallel datasets, were included in this study. The findings indicate that research activity in this field is predominantly concentrated in India, with limited international collaboration. Thematic patterns suggest a strong emphasis on pre-clinical experimentation, metallic and nanoparticulate characterization, and comparatively fewer studies involving human subjects. The analysis of publication trends further indicates that areas such as standardization, toxicological evaluation, pharmacokinetics, clinical validation, and regulatory-oriented research remain underrepresented in the existing literature. These observations are based on patterns in published research rather than direct assessment of experimental outcomes. Overall, the study highlights the evolving scientific interest in Bhasma and underscores the need for more interdisciplinary, methodologically rigorous, and clinically oriented research to support its future exploration within pharmaceutical and integrative research frameworks.