Bioactive potential, health benefits and application trends of Syzygium malaccense (Malay apple): A bibliometric review

Abstract

BackgroundIn recent years, underexploited plant species have been attracting the attention of researchers due to their bioactive compounds, which perform biological activities that are beneficial for human health. One such species is Syzygium malaccense, a species originally from Malaysia that has adapted well in several countries with tropical and subtropical climates around the world. Scope and approachThe aim of this work was to conduct a bibliometric survey using the Web of Science © (WOS) database in order to discover the extent of the research that has already been conducted, and from which fields of knowledge the research has been approached. To supplement this information, the article presents a bibliographic review of the bioactive profile, proven health benefits and application trends of all portions of the S. malaccense, including fruit, leaves, seeds, flowers and stem. Key findings and conclusionsThe bibliometric analysis revealed that the species has not yet been extensively studied; only 60 articles have been published (obtained with no year filter), mainly in the fields of food science and technology. The review also revealed that all portions of S. malaccense exhibit significant concentrations of bioactive compounds with biological activity proven to promote human health. It also exhibits several application trends, especially for the food industry; however, although this field has the most published studies, the bibliometric analysis reveals that there is still a lack of data regarding this species.