Coix lacryma-jobi Potential for Future Healthy Food: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

The utilisation of Coix lacryma-jobi as an alternative crop has the potential to alleviate food insecurity. However, this step needs to be supported by research on the grain nutritional and phytochemical properties. This study aims to provide an overview of research on C. lacryma-jobi grain food and health properties, based on the Scopus database. The analysis was conducted using Biblioshiny and Vosviewer. This research documented 122 documents published between 1983 and 2026. The publication's annual growth rate is about 4.95%, with a rapid rise after 2020. China, India, Indonesia, Japan, and Korea are five of the most prominent countries in scientific output, with the countries' collaboration map showing that India and Switzerland produce the most publications together. The co-occurrence network identified three clusters focused on nutritional and phytochemical compounds, transcriptomic, proteomic, and drug-potential analyses, and animal trials and the effects of C. lacryma-jobi extract. The first cluster was the oldest, and the second the newest. This result concludes the recent surge of interest in C. lacryma-jobi, with most scientific output produced in the plant's natural distribution range. The study also reveals a shift in scientific themes over the years.