Bhasma Research Through the Lens of Modern Pharmaceutical Science: A Bibliometric and Thematic Analysis (1980–2024)

Bhasmas are calcined metallic and mineral formulations used in traditional medicine and pharmaceutics that have attracted increasing scientific interest due to their nano-scale properties and potential pharmacological applications. However, their integration into mainstream pharmaceutical research remains limited by challenges related to standardization, safety validation, clinical evidence, and regulatory acceptance. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric and thematic analysis of global Bhasmas research published between 1980 and 2024, with a pharmaceutical science–oriented perspective. Peer-reviewed publications indexed in PubMed and Scopus were retrieved using predefined Boolean search strategies, and a total of 407 eligible documents were analyzed using VOSviewer (version 1.6.20) to evaluate publication trends, collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrence, MeSH term clustering, citation patterns, and journal co-citation structures. The results indicate that India accounts for over 90% of global research output, with limited international collaboration involving the United States, the United Kingdom, and South Korea. Thematic analysis revealed a predominance of pre-clinical studies focused on metallic nanoparticles and animal models, with relatively few human studies. Significant gaps were identified in toxicological evaluation, pharmacokinetics, mechanistic understanding, and regulatory alignment. Overall, the findings highlight the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and adoption of modern pharmaceutical and analytical frameworks to enhance the translational relevance and global acceptance of Bhasmas-based formulations.