Bibliometric analysis as a tool for the study of the Croton genus and antioxidant evaluation of Croton antisyphiliticus Mart (Euphorbiaceae)

Abstract

The targeted investigation on the biological activity of the species of the genus Croton using bibliometric analysis as a tool for the search allows for a systematic review of the literature, as well as the assessment of current quantitative research trends on the subject. In this research, the bibliometry of Croton species based on analysis of the antioxidant activity available and published in Web of Science and PubMed databases were carried out. In view of the lack of data regarding the antioxidant activity for C. antisyphiliticus Mart., the ethanolic extracts as well as fractions from the roots, stem and leaves were evaluated against the DPPH radical scavenging activity. The results showed high DPPH antioxidant activity for the leaves (IC50 35.53 µg mL-1), stem (IC50 47.14 µg mL-1) and fraction from stem (IC50 15.7 µg mL-1). Thus, we can infer that bibliometric analysis could be considered an important tool to guide research not only on the antioxidant activity of C. antisyphiliticus, but of other species as well. Furthermore, the reviewed information about the antioxidant potential of the genus Croton, findings from this research on the C. antisyphiliticus species are of significant value which contributes to the chemotaxonomic characterization of this species.