Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Early Access

Seeds of knowledge: A bibliometric deep dive into Euryale ferox Salisb. research

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.13812
Submitted
24 January 2026
Published
29-06-2026
Versions

Abstract

Euryale ferox Salisb. (makhana) is a widely consumed aquaculture minor fruit, which remains to be an eco-friendly superfood with tremendous pharmacological promise. This bibliometric study analysed 157 Scopus-indexed publications from 2000–25 to provide an insight of research productivity, thematic evolution and collaboration structure. Scholarly output has increased considerably over the years, with 22 publications by 2025. The methodology of citation analysis (2497 citations; h-index 26) emphasised influential works in basic and applied pharmacology, functional food science and agricultural studies. The most dominant themes were studies on antioxidant and bioactive components, starch functionalities, agronomic approaches and ethnopharmacological aspects. Authors with significant contributions include
Wu Q., Wang Y., Wu P., Kumar V. and Wang Q. Journals, such as the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Current Science and Pharmacognosy Journal, have highly disseminated the most scientific work in this discipline. Keyword mapping highlights the antioxidant activity, flavonoids, polyphenols and their nutraceutical applications, whereas genomics and clinical translation require further exploration. Critical gaps have been identified in molecular genetics, international collaboration and sustainability/value-chain research. By synthesising two decades of research trajectories, this Scopus-based bibliometric review provides a roadmap for interdisciplinary collaboration and policy integration to strengthen the role of the makhana in sustainable food systems and health innovation.

References

  1. 1. Shukla N, Sharma J, Sharma PK. A review on Euryale ferox (fox nut). J Pharmacogn Phytochem. 2024;13(5):50–2. https://doi.org/10.22271/phyto.2024.v13.i5a.15057
  2. 2. Liu Y, Wei S, Liao M. Optimization of ultrasonic extraction of phenolic compounds from Euryale ferox seed shells using response surface methodology. Ind Crops Prod. 2013;49:837–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2013.07.023
  3. 3. Zhang WN, Su RN, Gong LL, Yang WW, Chen J, Yang R, et al. Structural characterization and in vitro hypoglycemic activity of a glucan from Euryale ferox Salisb. seeds. Carbohydr Polym. 2019;209:363–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2019.01.044
  4. 4. Puri A, Sahai R, Singh KL, Saxena RP, Tandon JS, Saxena KC. Immunostimulant activity of dry fruits and plant materials used in Indian traditional medical system. J Ethnopharmacol. 2000;71(1–2):89–92.
  5. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-8741(99)00181-6
  6. 5. Eddouks M, Bidi A, El Bouhali B, Hajji L, Zeggwagh NA. Antidiabetic plants improving insulin sensitivity. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2014;66(9):1197–214. https://doi.org/10.1111/jphp.12243
  7. 6. Kapoor S, Kaur A, Kaur R, Kumar V, Choudhary M. Euryale ferox, a prominent superfood: nutritional, pharmaceutical and its economical importance. J Food Biochem. 2022;46(12):e14435. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfbc.14435
  8. 7. Kumar R, Singh IS, Jha V. Bioactive compounds in Euryale ferox Salisb. and their nutritional and therapeutic actions-a review. Vegetos. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42535-025-01209-x
  9. 8. Wu P, Liu A, Zhu Y, Li X, Wang Y, Li L. Proteomic analysis of Euryale ferox Salisb. seeds at different developmental stages. Gene. 2022;834:146645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gene.2022.146645
  10. 9. Wu P, Wang TY, Wang YH, Liu AL, Zhao SP, Feng K, et al. Effect of slow-release urea on yield and quality of Euryale ferox. Int J Mol Sci. 2024;25(21):11737. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252111737
  11. 10. Devi N, Rani K, Kharb P, Kaushik P. Bio-fabrication of Euryale ferox (makhana) leaf silver nanoparticles and their antibacterial, antioxidant and cytotoxic potential. Plants. 2022;11(20):2766. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11202766
  12. 11. Mittal R, Sharma S, Mittal A. A critical review on ethnobotanical and pharmacological aspects of Euryale ferox. Pharmacogn J. 2020;12(6):1444–54. https://doi.org/10.5530/pj.2020.12.199
  13. 12. Ahmed D, Kumar V, Verma A, Shukla GS, Sharma M. Antidiabetic, antioxidant, antihyperlipidemic effect of extract of Euryale ferox Salisb. with enhanced histopathology of pancreas, liver and kidney in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. SpringerPlus. 2015;4:315. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40064-015-1059-7
  14. 13. Jiang J, Ou H, Chen R, Lu H, Zhou L, Yang Z. The ethnopharmacological, phytochemical and pharmacological review of Euryale ferox Salisb.: a Chinese medicine food homology. Molecules. 2023;28(11):4399. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28114399
  15. 14. Maibam BD, Chakraborty S, Nickhil C, Deka SC. Effect of Euryale ferox seed shell extract addition on in vitro starch digestibility and predicted glycemic index of wheat-based bread. Int J Biol Macromol. 2023;276:1066–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.11.223
  16. 15. Shaw R, Das S, Chaube R. Reproductive health benefits of Euryale ferox Salisb.: a short comprehensive review. J Endocrinol Reprod. 2024;28(3). https://doi.org/10.18311/jer/2024/44756
  17. 16. European Food Safety Authority. Technical report on the notification of roasted and popped kernels from the seeds of Euryale ferox Salisb. as a traditional food from a third country pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. EFSA Supporting Publ. 2022. https://doi.org/10.2903/sp.efsa.2022.EN-7538
  18. 17. Jiang Q, Gao W, Li X, Tian Y, Wang H. Physicochemical properties of Euryale ferox kernel starches from different regions. Int J Food Prop. 2016;19(2):279–92. https://doi.org/10.1080/10942912.2015.1023389
  19. 18. Zhang L, Chen Y, Zeng J, Zang J, Liang Q, Tang D, et al. Digestive and physicochemical properties of small granular starch from Euryale feroxseeds growing in Yugan, China. Food Biophys. 2022;17:126–35.
  20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11483-021-09706-7
  21. 19. Mahesh Kumar M, Ahlawat S, Kaur J, Yadav R. Differentiating the nutrient composition, in vitro starch digestibility and phenolics of raw versus popped makhana (Euryale ferox). J Food Meas Charact. 2023;17:5828–44. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11694-023-02074-5
  22. 20. Islam Z, Bashir K, Singh S, Rastogi M, Siddiqui S, Punia Bangar S. Structural and functional properties of starch from popped seeds of makhana (Euryale ferox). Starch Stärke. 2025;77(7):e70030. https://doi.org/10.1002/star.70030
  23. 21. Ekal V, Kumbamoorthy S. Formulation and proximate analysis of makhana-enriched laddoos. Int J Nutr Pharmacol Neurol Dis. 2024;14(2):205–12. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnpnd.ijnpnd_92_23
  24. 22. Jha V, Shalini R, Kumari A, Jha P, Sah NK. Aquacultural, nutritional and therapeutic biology of delicious seeds of Euryale feroxSalisb.: a minireview. Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2018;19(7):545–55. https://doi.org/10.2174/1389201019666180808160058
  25. 23. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). Strategies to boost India’s makhana exports. New Delhi: APEDA; 2025.
  26. 24. Agro-Economic Research Centre (AERC) for Bihar & Jharkhand. Supply chain of makhana marketing and processing in Bihar (Study No. 56). Bhagalpur: AERC; 2023.
  27. 25. Guo Z, Min J. Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of Euryale ferox (Nymphaeaceae), a medicinal plant species in China. Mitochondrial DNA B Resour. 2020;5(3):2389–90. https://doi.org/10.1080/23802359.2020.1775516
  28. 26. NGDC Genome Warehouse. Euryale ferox genome assembly (GWHBFHH00000000). 2021. https://ngdc.cncb.ac.cn/gwh/Assembly/22879/show
  29. 27. Wu P, Zhang L, Zhang K, Yin Y, Liu A, Zhu Y, et al. Adaptive evolution of Euryale feroxto the aquatic environment through paleo-hexaploidization. Plant J. 2022;110(3):627–45. https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.15717
  30. 28. Xie X, Zeng C, Zhang R, Zhu W, Li H, Huang Z. Profiling and discrimination of Euryale ferox seeds from different processing methods using LC–HRMS combined with molecular networking. Metabolites. 2025;15(4):225. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15040225
  31. 29. Kumar A, Jena HM. Preparation and characterization of high surface area activated carbon from fox nut (Euryale ferox) shell by chemical activation with H₃PO₄. Results Phys. 2016;6:651–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rinp.2016.09.012

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.