ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Clitoria ternatea L. (butterfly pea) has attracted increasing research interest in veterinary and animal sciences because of its applications in livestock nutrition, animal-model pharmacology, and intelligent packaging for animal-origin foods. However, the geographical distribution, collaborative structure, thematic organization, and evolution of this research remain insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to map global publication trends, leading contributors, research networks, and emerging scientific frontiers of C. ternatea in veterinary and animal sciences.

Materials and Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted using Scopus records retrieved on March 18, 2026. Publications addressing C. ternatea in veterinary and animal sciences were identified through predefined search terms and eligibility criteria. Of the 1,466 retrieved records, we excluded 1,148 after screening, leaving 318 publications from 1973 to March 2026. Publication trends, citation indicators, geographical contributions, institutional productivity, international collaboration, and keyword co-occurrence were analyzed using Microsoft Excel, Python, and VOSviewer. Thematic communities were identified through weighted modularity-based network analysis, and temporal keyword mapping was used to characterize changing research priorities.

Results: Annual publication output increased by approximately 14% during 2000–2025 (R² = 0.88), reaching 45 publications in 2024. Of the 318 publications, 170 (53.5%) appeared during 2021–March 2026. The publications accumulated 4,991 citations, averaging 15.7 citations per document, with an h-index of 34. India (91 publications) and Indonesia (66) were the leading contributors, followed by Australia (32), Thailand (26), Brazil (25), and Malaysia (25). International collaboration accounted for only 19.8% of publications. Analysis of 112 keywords identified five thematic clusters (modularity Q = 0.33): animal-model pharmacology and toxicology, anthocyanin-based intelligent packaging, tropical forage and ruminant nutrition, phytochemistry and bioactive characterization, and antidiabetic and metabolic animal models. Temporal mapping indicated increasing emphasis on intelligent packaging during 2020–2024.

Conclusion: Research on C. ternatea is expanding but remains geographically concentrated and internationally fragmented. The identified research fronts highlight opportunities for coordinated investigations into livestock nutrition, animal-origin food quality, and veterinary applications. Broader collaboration and controlled translational studies are needed to strengthen veterinary and One Health relevance.