Insights Into 70 Years of Global Botanical Pesticide Research Based on a Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis

Insights Into 70 Years of Global Botanical Pesticide Research Based on a Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Insights Into 70 Years of Global Botanical Pesticide Research Based on a Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis Samson Usman, Dauda Wadzani Palnam, Peter Abraham, Israel Ogwuche Ogra, and 15 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7766222/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Environmental and health concerns associated with synthetic pesticides have triggered global interest in botanical alternatives as eco-friendly pest control solutions. This study analyses the global evolution, knowledge structure, and research gaps in botanical pesticide research spanning seven decades. Through systematic bibliometric analysis of 2,977 peer-reviewed articles (1950–2024) retrieved from Scopus, research trends, thematic shifts, and collaboration networks were examined using PRISMA guidelines, Bibliometrix in R, and VOSviewer. Scientific output has grown steadily at 7.76% annually, with India, Brazil, and China emerging as leading contributors. Notable contributors such as Pavela R., Benelli G., and Isman M.B. emerged as leading authors based on productivity and citations. Industrial Crops and Products, Crop Protection, and Pest Management Science were identified as the most relevant sources publishing botanical pesticide research. Research themes evolved from basic insecticidal properties to formulation optimization, toxicity validation (LC 50 , LD 50 ), and essential oil chemistry. Collaboration remains predominantly national, though intercontinental partnerships are expanding. Despite rising academic interest, commercialization, field validation, and socio-economic adoption remain limited. This review not only maps the evolution of botanical pesticide research but also shows structural limitations hindering mainstream adoption, urging global stakeholders to integrate policy reforms and interdisciplinary innovations. It proposes a forward-looking strategy focused on interdisciplinary innovation, policy reform, and farmer-centered approaches to improve the global adoption of botanical pesticides in sustainable agriculture. Botanical pesticides Biopesticides formulation Sustainable agriculture Pest management Eco-friendly pest control Phytochemical pesticides Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7766222","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":524644917,"identity":"ce24a894-0314-4f39-a8c7-8b8dd7419076","order_by":0,"name":"Samson Usman","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Ahmadu Bello University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Samson","middleName":"","lastName":"Usman","suffix":""},{"id":524644918,"identity":"feb48779-cc81-4877-b684-985a6c267518","order_by":1,"name":"Dauda Wadzani Palnam","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA8UlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYHACAyCWYGwAMT4AmWzspGhhnAHSwkycFgawFmYeEJOQFoPjhzd/+LnDQrZ/RvLGzza/tsnzMTMwfviYg0fLmbQCw94zEsYzbqQVS+f23TZsY2Zglpy5DbcWswM5Bgm8bRKJDTdyDKRze24zArWwMfPi03L+jcHBv0At82/kGP+27LltT1jLjRzDZpAtG27kmEkz/LidSFCL/Y1nxcyybRLGG888K7Psbbid3MbM2IzXL5L9yZs/vm2rk513PHnzjR9/btvOb28++OEjHi2ogLENTDYQqx4E/pCieBSMglEwCkYKAAB2LFU8DToF1wAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"Federal University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Dauda","middleName":"Wadzani","lastName":"Palnam","suffix":""},{"id":524644919,"identity":"0f276dcb-8a77-4436-86e4-a7f9f9149f69","order_by":2,"name":"Peter Abraham","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Federal College of Horticulture","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Peter","middleName":"","lastName":"Abraham","suffix":""},{"id":524644920,"identity":"c6ffd3cc-7805-46cf-8147-21d74ced7cb9","order_by":3,"name":"Israel Ogwuche Ogra","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"UNESCO International Centre for Biotechnology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Israel","middleName":"Ogwuche","lastName":"Ogra","suffix":""},{"id":524644921,"identity":"d8853f97-9166-4748-af44-5bfb74f92de3","order_by":4,"name":"Seun Cecilia Joshua","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"UNESCO International Centre for Biotechnology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Seun","middleName":"Cecilia","lastName":"Joshua","suffix":""},{"id":524644922,"identity":"51e7cab0-b14f-4e2c-982b-37f189794aea","order_by":5,"name":"Mercy Nathaniel","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Ahmadu Bello University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mercy","middleName":"","lastName":"Nathaniel","suffix":""},{"id":524644923,"identity":"677b12e1-9d72-4038-8c67-1175e9aaa916","order_by":6,"name":"Dasoem Naanswan Joseph","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Federal University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Dasoem","middleName":"Naanswan","lastName":"Joseph","suffix":""},{"id":524644924,"identity":"7af8a813-50bb-4879-b2ae-8ee5b3e1007c","order_by":7,"name":"Dogara Elisha Tumba","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Ahmadu University Zaria","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Dogara","middleName":"Elisha","lastName":"Tumba","suffix":""},{"id":524644925,"identity":"359e7089-e430-4ff0-b0d3-f5108979f287","order_by":8,"name":"Mela Ilu Luka","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Federal University Lokoja","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mela","middleName":"Ilu","lastName":"Luka","suffix":""},{"id":524644926,"identity":"0f8d9239-530e-4555-a501-02016856e108","order_by":9,"name":"Okechukwu Kalu Iroha","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"UNESCO International Centre for Biotechnology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Okechukwu","middleName":"Kalu","lastName":"Iroha","suffix":""},{"id":524644927,"identity":"4c038ea4-4f03-4122-97ce-0f0377818678","order_by":10,"name":"Emohchonne Utos Jonathan","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Federal University Wukari","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Emohchonne","middleName":"Utos","lastName":"Jonathan","suffix":""},{"id":524644928,"identity":"8814a49a-2bf0-41fa-8dc9-609c7142ad97","order_by":11,"name":"Ndukwe K. Johnson","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"UNESCO International Centre for Biotechnology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ndukwe","middleName":"K.","lastName":"Johnson","suffix":""},{"id":524644929,"identity":"fb0fb715-2c16-4e97-b4a9-b4c7b4284f65","order_by":12,"name":"Morumda Daji","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Federal University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Morumda","middleName":"","lastName":"Daji","suffix":""},{"id":524644930,"identity":"f969167a-a0a5-4589-9c83-1db06ffe77c3","order_by":13,"name":"Elkanah Glen","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Ahmadu Bello University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Elkanah","middleName":"","lastName":"Glen","suffix":""},{"id":524644931,"identity":"eaec7219-e527-460b-8a5a-ca566b37d84d","order_by":14,"name":"Grace Peter Wabba","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Ahmadu Bello University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Grace","middleName":"Peter","lastName":"Wabba","suffix":""},{"id":524644932,"identity":"5b85c8b2-4963-45af-898e-78b7c10abfdf","order_by":15,"name":"Phumzile Sibisi","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of South Africa","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Phumzile","middleName":"","lastName":"Sibisi","suffix":""},{"id":524644933,"identity":"8088cd0a-c321-4222-a3b6-8d63fefcfa3e","order_by":16,"name":"Toba Samuel Anjorin","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Abuja","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Toba","middleName":"Samuel","lastName":"Anjorin","suffix":""},{"id":524644934,"identity":"27ad71cd-ceeb-4b2c-9f48-a70eb1a3a60f","order_by":17,"name":"Vaibhav B. Sabale","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Parul University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Vaibhav","middleName":"B.","lastName":"Sabale","suffix":""},{"id":524644935,"identity":"4005bd8c-d6ed-4833-883a-a79b73d292e0","order_by":18,"name":"Umezuruike Linus Opara","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"UNESCO International Centre for Biotechnology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Umezuruike","middleName":"Linus","lastName":"Opara","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-10-02 11:53:24","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7766222/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7766222/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":93481643,"identity":"4b9cb66c-04df-43b6-93f5-c6a5af236f27","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-14 10:09:55","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":2081528,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"BOTANICALPESTICIDESAMSON.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7766222/v1_covered_1a9d445c-8abc-42cd-b7a5-15d113d52be8.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Insights Into 70 Years of Global Botanical Pesticide Research Based on a Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Botanical pesticides, Biopesticides formulation, Sustainable agriculture, Pest management, Eco-friendly pest control, Phytochemical pesticides","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7766222/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7766222/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eEnvironmental and health concerns associated with synthetic pesticides have triggered global interest in botanical alternatives as eco-friendly pest control solutions. This study analyses the global evolution, knowledge structure, and research gaps in botanical pesticide research spanning seven decades. Through systematic bibliometric analysis of 2,977 peer-reviewed articles (1950–2024) retrieved from Scopus, research trends, thematic shifts, and collaboration networks were examined using PRISMA guidelines, Bibliometrix in R, and VOSviewer. Scientific output has grown steadily at 7.76% annually, with India, Brazil, and China emerging as leading contributors. Notable contributors such as Pavela R., Benelli G., and Isman M.B. emerged as leading authors based on productivity and citations. Industrial Crops and Products, Crop Protection, and Pest Management Science were identified as the most relevant sources publishing botanical pesticide research. Research themes evolved from basic insecticidal properties to formulation optimization, toxicity validation (LC\u003csub\u003e50\u003c/sub\u003e, LD\u003csub\u003e50\u003c/sub\u003e), and essential oil chemistry. Collaboration remains predominantly national, though intercontinental partnerships are expanding. Despite rising academic interest, commercialization, field validation, and socio-economic adoption remain limited. This review not only maps the evolution of botanical pesticide research but also shows structural limitations hindering mainstream adoption, urging global stakeholders to integrate policy reforms and interdisciplinary innovations. It proposes a forward-looking strategy focused on interdisciplinary innovation, policy reform, and farmer-centered approaches to improve the global adoption of botanical pesticides in sustainable agriculture.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Insights Into 70 Years of Global Botanical Pesticide Research Based on a Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-10-14 10:01:46","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7766222/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"921724a6-b47d-449c-86d7-dc6c61063501","owner":[],"postedDate":"October 14th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-10-14T10:01:46+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-10-14 10:01:46","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7766222","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7766222","identity":"rs-7766222","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}