Tannin-rich bark extract of plants as a source of antimicrobial bioactive compounds: A bibliometric analysis

Abstract

The barks of plant stems are sources of bioactive compounds used in the treatment of diseases. Among these compounds, tannins offer different therapeutic applications. In this context, this research aimed to perform a bibliometric analysis on the state of the art of all studies published in the literature that relate the use of tannin-rich extracts and antimicrobial activity to identify challenges and support future research and its applicability in different industry segments. Scopus was the database used to extract registration and specific information about articles on this topic. 354 documents published since 1963 were counted, and the country of origin of most of the articles was Nigeria. The most studied family and species were Fabaceae and Terminalia arjuna , respectively. As for the pathogenic microorganisms, the bacteria Escherichia coli , the fungus Candida albicans and the HIV virus stood out. Tannin-rich bark extracts showed antimicrobial potential, a characteristic that may guide future research with the aim of developing new medicines derived from natural products. In parallel, the results of this research can contribute to the development of products used in the food and cosmetic industries, aiming to reduce the consumption of unnatural products. • Bibliometric analysis indicates state of the art of tannin-rich extracts as antimicrobials. • Underdeveloped countries are major researchers of antimicrobial tannins. • Studies with tannin-rich bark extracts concentrate on few species. • Standardization of solvents to obtain tannin-rich extracts is a scientific gap. • Tannin-rich bark extracts are a source of raw material for several industries.