Global Scientific Output on Mushroom Poisoning: A Bibliometric Evaluation (2015–2025)

Abstract

Introductıon
Mushroom poisoning is a significant public health problem caused by the consumption of toxic mushroom species and may lead to severe clinical outcomes, including acute liver failure and death. In recent years, increasing numbers of poisoning cases and advancements in toxicological research have attracted growing scientific attention worldwide. Bibliometric analysis provides an effective method for evaluating scientific productivity, research trends, and thematic developments in a specific field. This study aimed to analyze global research trends and scientific output related to mushroom poisoning.
Methods
A bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection database. Publications published between 2015 and 2025 were retrieved using the keywords “mushroom poisoning,” “fungal toxicity,” and “mycotoxin ingestion.” Articles, reviews, and conference proceedings were included, while duplicate and irrelevant records were excluded. Data regarding publication counts, citations, countries, institutions, authors, and keywords were analyzed. Visualization analyses of co-authorship and keyword networks were performed using VOSviewer and CiteSpace software.
Results
A total of 9,650 publications were identified and analyzed. The annual number of publications increased steadily over the study period, especially after 2020. China, the United States, and Türkiye were the leading contributors to the literature. The most frequently used keywords were “mushroom poisoning,” “amatoxin,” “acute liver failure,” and “hepatotoxicity.” Thematic analyses demonstrated that the literature mainly focused on toxicological mechanisms, clinical management, epidemiology, and liver transplantation outcomes. Recent studies increasingly emphasized molecular toxicology, biomarkers, and advanced diagnostic approaches. Citation analyses showed that studies on amatoxin poisoning and acute liver failure management had the greatest scientific impact.
Conclusion
Mushroom poisoning research has evolved into a multidisciplinary field integrating toxicology, emergency medicine, hepatology, and public health. The findings provide important insights into global research trends and may guide future studies and collaborative strategies in this field.