Journals / Uludağ Arıcılık Dergisi / 2026 / Volume: 26

Global publication trends in apitherapy research: A bibliometric analysis in the context of complementary health

Dolunay Özlem Zeybek(Bandırma Onyedi Eylül Üniversitesi)0000-0003-1219-3308
Pages
—
Publication Date
2026-03-31
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The results indicated that apitherapy research demonstrated a continuous upward trend during the study period, with an average annual growth rate of 7.79%.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:In this study, global publications on apitherapy published between 2017 and 2025 were analysed using bibliometric methods.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Bibliometric performance indicators, network visualisation, thematic evolution, and factor analysis were applied to evaluate the structure and development of the field.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:The results indicated that apitherapy research demonstrated a continuous upward trend during the study period, with an average annual growth rate of 7.79%.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:2017 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Bee Products · Citation analysis · Propolis

Abstract

In this study, global publications on apitherapy published between 2017 and 2025 were analysed using bibliometric methods. The data were retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database and analysed using VOSviewer and R software. Bibliometric performance indicators, network visualisation, thematic evolution, and factor analysis were applied to evaluate the structure and development of the field. The results indicated that apitherapy research demonstrated a continuous upward trend during the study period, with an average annual growth rate of 7.79%. China, Brazil, and Iran were identified as the most productive countries, while Türkiye ranked tenth. Karadeniz Technical University was among the top contributing institutions. The majority of publications were concentrated in the fields of molecular biology, pharmacology, and biochemistry. "Propolis" was identified as the most frequently used keyword. Thematic evolution analysis revealed that "bee" and "bee venom" were prominent in earlier years, whereas "propolis" and "melittin" gained increasing prominence in recent years. Factor analysis demonstrated that the literature was primarily structured around basic science and clinical research themes. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive bibliometric evaluation of global research trends, intellectual structure, and thematic development in apitherapy, and offers valuable insights to guide future research.

🔖

Cite This Article

Zeybek, D. Ö. (2026). Global publication trends in apitherapy research: A bibliometric analysis in the context of complementary health. Uludağ Arıcılık Dergisi, Volume: 26. https://doi.org/10.31467/uluaricilik.1881120

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (30)

  1. Becerril-Sánchez AL, Quintero-Salazar B, Dublán-García O, Escalona-Buendía HB. Phenolic Compounds in Honey and Their Relationship with Antioxidant Activity, Botanical Origin and Color. Antioxidants 2021;10(11):1700. doi:10.3390/antiox 10111700
  2. Bhol NK, Bhanjadeo MM, Singh AK, Dash UC, Ojha RR, Majhi S, et al. The interplay between cytokines, inflammation, and antioxidants: mechanistic insights and therapeutic potentials of various antioxidants and anti-cytokine compounds. Biomed Pharmacother. 2024;178:117177. doi:10.1016/j.biopha. 2024.117177
  3. Calcagni N, Gana K, Quintard B. A systematic review of complementary and alternative medicine in oncology: Psychological and physical effects of manipulative and body-based practices. PLOS One 2019;14(10):e0223564. doi.org/ 10.1371/journal.pone.0223564
  4. Cianciosi D, Forbes-Hernández TY, Afrin S, Gasparrini M, Reboredo-Rodriguez P, Manna PP, et al. Phenolic Compounds in Honey and Their Associated Health Benefits: A Review. Molecules. 2018:11;23(9):2322. doi:10.3390/ molecules23092322
  5. Donthu N, Kumar S, Mukherjee D, Pandey N, Lim WM. How to conduct a bibliometric analysis: An overview and guidelines. J Bus Res. 2021;133:285–296. doi.org/10.1016/j. jbusres.2021.04.070
  6. Durham SR, Shamji MH. Allergen immunotherapy: past, present and future. Nat Rev Immunol. 2023;23(5):317-328. doi:10.1038/s41577-22-0786-1
  7. El-Didamony SE, Gouda HIA, Zidan MMM, Amer RI. Bee products: An overview of sources, biological activities and advanced approaches used in apitherapy application. Biotechnol Rep. 2024;44:e00862. doi.org/10.1016/j.btre. 2024.e00862
  8. Espíndola KMM, Ferreira RG, Narvaez LEM, Silva Rosario ACR, da Silva AHM, Silva AGB, et al. Chemical and Pharmacological Aspects of Caffeic Acid and Its Activity in Hepatocarcinoma. Front Oncol. 2019;21;9:541. doi:10.3389/fonc.2019.00541
  9. Fratellone PM, Tsimis F, Fratellone G. Apitherapy products for medicinal use. J Altern Complement Med. 2016;22(12):1020–1022. doi.org/10.1089/acm.2015.0346
  10. Hacker K. The burden of chronic disease. Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes. 2024;8(1):112. doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2023.08.005
  11. Hellner M, Winter D, von Georgi R, Münstedt K. Apitherapy: Usage and experience in German beekeepers. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2007;5(4):475–479. doi.org/10.1093/ecam/nem052
  12. Imran M, Hussain M, Baig MB. A randomized, controlled clinical trial of honey-impregnated dressing for treating diabetic foot ulcer. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2015;25(10):721–725. doi: 10.2015/JCPSP.721725
  13. Imran M, Salehi B, Sharifi-Rad J, Aslam Gondal T, Saeed F, Imran A, et al. Kaempferol: A Key Emphasis to Its Anticancer Potential. Molecules 2019;24(12):2277. doi:10.3390/ molecules24122277
  14. Kešnerová L, Mars RAT, Ellegaard KM, Troilo M, Sauer U, Engel P. Disentangling metabolic functions of bacteria in the honey bee gut. PLoS Biol. 2017;15(12):e2003467. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.2003467
  15. Khan RU, Naz S, Abudabos AM. Towards a better understanding of the therapeutic applications and corresponding mechanisms of action of honey. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2017;24(36):27755–27766. doi.org/10.1007/ s11356-017-05670-0
  16. Malhotra R, Ziahosseini K, Poitelea C, Litwin A, Sagili S. Effect of manuka honey on eyelid wound healing: A randomized controlled trial. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017;33(1):57-61
  17. Manjon C, Troczka BJ, Zaworra M, Beadle K, Randall E, Hertlein G, et al. Unravelling the Molecular Determinants of Bee Sensitivity to Neonicotinoid Insecticides. Curr Biol. 2018;28(7):1137-1143.e5. doi:10.1016/j.cub 2018.02.045
  18. Naghavi M, Ong KL, Aali A, Ababneh HS, Abate YH, Abbafati C, et al. Global burden of 288 causes of death and life expectancy decomposition in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet. 2024;403(10440):2100–2132. doi.org/10. 1016/S0140-6736(24)00367-2
  19. Pasupuleti VR, Sammugam L, Ramesh N, Gan SH. Honey, propolis, and royal jelly: A comprehensive review of their biological actions and health benefits. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2017;2017:1259510. doi.org/10. 1155/2017/1259510
  20. Przybyłek I, Karpiński TM. Antibacterial Properties of Propolis. Molecules. 2019;24(11):2047. doi:10.3390/molecules 24112047
  21. Sağlık Bakanlığı. Apiterapi uygulama kılavuzu. Ankara; 2025
  22. Şenel E, Dalı AB. A holistic analysis of bee venom literature: Bibliometric evaluation of the global publication productivity on bee venom between 1975 and 2017. Hitit Med J. 2019;1(1):6–11.
  23. Şenel E, Demir E. Bibliometric analysis of apitherapy in complementary medicine literature between 1980 and 2016. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2018;31:47–52. doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2018. 02.003
  24. Temizer İK, Çobanoğlu DN. Bibliometric analysis of research on bee pollen: Global trends and collaboration patterns. Gıda. 2023;48(5):1084–1098. doi.org/10.15237/ gida.gd23036
  25. Ulusoy E. Bal ve apiterapi. Uludag Bee J. 2012;12(3):89–97.
  26. Wang Y, Liu X, Yang Y, Yang J, Ding H, Li C, et al. Bibliometric analysis of propolis research based on ITGInsight. Rev Bras Farmacogn. 2026;36(1):22–36. doi.org/10.1007/s43450-025-00733-w
  27. Wen H, Cui S, Xu M. Mechanism of apitherapy in preventing and treating Alzheimer’s disease: A bibliometric analysis. Asian J Surg. 2025;48(3):1678–1680. doi.org/10.1016/ j.asjsur.2024.10.165
  28. Yildirim G. A bibliometric analysis of alternative medicine practices: Insights for wellness tourism and culinary health studies. Int J Spa Wellness. 2026;1–21. doi.org/10.1080/ 24721735.2025.2610879
  29. Zakerkish M, Jenabi M, Zaeemzadeh N, Hemmati AA, Neisi N. The effect of Iranian propolis on glucose metabolism, lipid profile, insulin resistance, renal function and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized double-blind clinical trial. Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):1–11. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-43838-8
  30. Zulkefli N, Che Zahari CNM, Sayuti NH, Kamarudin AA, Saad N, Hamezah HS, et al. Flavonoids as Potential Wound-Healing Molecules: Emphasis on Pathways Perspective. Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24:4607. doi:10.3390/ijms 24054607