A bibliometric analysis of royal jelly research (1995–2025): Global trends, collaboration networks, and thematic structure

Abstract

This study presents a bibliometric analysis of scientific literature on royal jelly published from 1995 to 2025. It evaluates publication performance, the most prolific authors and journals, citation structure, international collaboration networks, and thematic trends. The findings reveal a steady increase in research on royal jelly over the years, with publications mainly appearing in journals on beekeeping, food science, and chemistry. Keyword and thematic analyses show that early studies focused on Apis mellifera and compositional analysis, whereas later research highlighted molecular and functional aspects, including proteins, gene expression, and biological activity. In recent years, research on biological effects, including antioxidant activity, oxidative stress, and 10-HDA, has increased. Collaboration networks indicate that research output is concentrated in certain countries, with China occupying a central position in the literature. In conclusion, the royal jelly literature has evolved from descriptive studies to mechanistic and application-oriented research, maturing through an interdisciplinary structure. © 2025, The Author(s).