Objective To analyze the current research status of Longyanrou (Longan Arillus) using bibliometric methods, and predict its future research hotspots and development trends. Methods Literature on Longan Arillus research was collected from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform (WF), VIP Chinese Scientific Journals Database (VIP), and the Web of Science Core Collection (WOS). The retrieved literature was imported into NoteExpress, where duplicates and records not meeting the inclusion criteria were removed, and keywords were standardized. Excel, CiteSpace 6.4.R1 advanced, and VOSviewer 1.6.20 were used to statistically analyze publication volume of the literature, the countries of publication, institutions, authors, journals, literature with high citation frequency, keywords, etc. Results A total of 675 eligible articles were retrieved, including 605 Chinese articles and 70 English articles. The annual publication volume of Longan Arillus-related research showed an overall upward trend. The country with the highest publication volume is China. The institutions conducting research on Longan Arillus are also mainly Chinese institutions. The institutions with the most publications in both Chinese and English are Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (11 articles) and Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science (19 articles), respectively. The authors with the most publications are Li Xuehua (nine articles) and Zhang Mingwei (14 articles), respectively. The journals with the highest publication volume are Shaanxi Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Carbohydrate Polymers, respectively. The top 10 most cited Chinese and English articles mainly focused on the clinical application and pharmacological effects of Longan Arillus. The most frequent Chinese and English keywords were Guipi Decoction (144 times) and polysaccharides (15 times). Conclusion The dominant force in Longan Arillus research is concentrated in China, with domestic institutions serving as the core entities. With the strengthening of domestic and international collaboration, the growth of market demand, the improvement of economic support, the guidance of relevant policies, and advances in research technology, research on Longan Arillus has gradually developed from early traditional clinical application and experience summarization into a modern multidisciplinary research system at the microscopic molecular level. Current research hotspots are based on traditional Chinese medicine theory, exploring the compatibility mechanisms, clinical applications, chemical components, and pharmacological mechanisms such as antioxidation and antitumor effects of Longan Arillus itself and its classic formulas (such as Guipi Decoction). In the future, research will continue to take the promotion of traditional Chinese medicine theory as its foundation, strengthen international exchange and cultural dissemination, and integrate digital and other technological innovation concepts to address key technical challenges in modern traditional Chinese medicine research, deeply analyze the fine chemical composition and pharmacological mechanisms of Longan Arillus, and systematically reveal its pharmacodynamic material basis and pathways of action. At the same time, this study will deepen the collaborative cooperation between universities and enterprises, build an efficient transformation channel from research to industrialization, and promote the industrialization of related achievements, integrate traditional theories with modern technology to enhance innovation capabilities and international influence, and providing a reference for the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine theory on Longan Arillus and the industrialization transformation of related scientific and technological achievements.

Longan Arillus  /  bibliometrics  /  field of traditional Chinese medicine  /  research status and hotspots  /  development trend  /  visual analysis