Objective Drawing on bibliometric and visualization techniques, this study systematically maps the current landscape and emerging hotspots of polysaccharide–gut microbiota research, offering an evidence-based roadmap for future investigations. Methods China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP, Wanfang and Web of Science (WOS) were searched for Chinese- and English-language publications on “gut microbiota AND polysaccharides”. CiteSpace, VOSviewer and Microsoft Excel were employed to visualize and quantify annual output, leading institutes, prolific authors, highly cited journals, keyword clusters and burst terms. Results A total of 1 684 Chinese and 872 English articles were retained. Over the past decade, the field exhibited an “ascend-descend” pattern, entering a rapid-growth phase after 2017. China (Nanchang University and Nanjing Agricultural University as hubs) and the USA dominate the output; China ranks first globally, benefiting from abundant traditional-Chinese-medicine polysaccharide resources and strong policy support. Chinese and English literatures evolved differently: Chinese papers initially focused on single polysaccharides (e.g., Astragali Radix or Lycium barbarum polysaccharides) modulating microbial abundance, then shifted to structure–activity relationships and veterinary/clinical applications, whereas English papers moved from gut-barrier function to ulcerative colitis mechanisms, with in vitro fermentation models advancing studies linking metabolic syndrome to short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Keyword clustering and burst detection identified immunomodulation, structural characterization, metabolic syndrome and SCFAs as core topics, while “high-fat diet” and “precision regulation” emerged after 2022. Conclusion Interactions between polysaccharides and gut microbiota, their structure–activity relationships, and applications in metabolic diseases such as obesity constitute the central research agenda. Complementary Chinese-English collaboration will propel the field toward precision and clinical translation.

intestinal flora  /  traditional Chinese medicine  /  polysaccharides  /  bibliometric analysis  /  research hotspots and trends  /  visualization