Objective To analyze the current application status and hotspots of mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) research, and use knowledge graphs to display the research process in this field, providing reference for in-depth research and application. Methods Relevant Chinese and English literature from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform (Wanfang), VIP Data Knowledge Service Platform (VIP) and Web of Science (WOS) databases were retrieved. Literature was screened by NoteExpress literature management software. The CiteSpace software was used to draw a knowledge graph of publishing volume, publishing institutions, authors, keywords, etc. Results A total of 124 Chinese literature and 306 English literature were included. The quantities of related publications significantly increased since the 2021. The Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs and Chinese Journal of Chinese Materia Medica are the journals with the highest quantities of publications in Chinese. Journal of Ethnopharmacology is the journal with the highest quantities of publications in English. Sun Bo’s team and Cai Zongwei’s team were the teams with the highest quantities of publications in Chinese and English, respectively. The China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences and Chinese Academy of Science were the research institutions with the highest quantities of publications in Chinese and English, respectively. Research in Chinese-language literature focused primarily on metabolomics, chemical composition, and tissue distribution, whereas English literature research emphasized component identification, metabolites, and biosynthesis. The main research focus of Chinese and English literature research is the same, both involving the characterization and spatial distribution of chemical components, biosynthesis, and metabolic pathways. Conclusion At present, MSI has been widely used in TCM research, primarily covering the characterization and spatial localization of chemical component, quality evaluation of TCM, biosynthesis of active components, in vivo metabolism and distribution, and elucidation of the TCM mechanism of action. Future research should focus on the following aspects: improvement of MSI-related databases, quantitative MSI technology optimization, the integration of MSI with other analytical technologies, clinical research and application promotion of TCM, the development and application of three-dimensional and in vivo MSI.

mass spectrometry imaging  /  CiteSpace  /  knowledge graph  /  spatial distribution  /  component characterization  /  biosynthesis