Research Hotspots and Prospects of Traditional Chinese Medicine Monomers in the Treatment of Cartilage Injuries: A Bibliometric and Visualization Analysis

Background Cartilage injuries, such as osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), are prevalent globally, imposing a substantial burden on individual health, quality of life, and socioeconomic systems. The mechanisms of action of traditional chinese medicine (TCM) monomers in cartilage injury have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to explore the research hotspots and future directions of TCM monomers in the treatment of cartilage injuries and to provide a valuable reference for subsequent studies in this field. Methods All literature related to TCM monomers in the treatment of cartilage injuries was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database, covering publications from its inception to January 6, 2026. Publication output, authors, institutions, countries, co-citations (including authors, journals, literature), and keywords were visually analyzed using VOSviewer and CiteSpace (version 6.4.R1). Results A total of 1006 articles were included in this analysis. An upward trend in annual publications has been observed. Shakibaei M had the most publications and the highest citation counts. Shanghai Jiao Tong University was the institution with the most publications. China demonstrated the highest publication output among all countries. China and the United States exhibit close international collaborations. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage and Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases were the most influential journals, with high citations and impact factors. Research hotspots in TCM monomers for cartilage injury treatment have gradually shifted from early focuses on articular chondrocytes, gene expression, inflammation and immunomodulation, and oxidative stress to recent emphases on network pharmacology, drug delivery, autophagy and signaling pathways, nanotechnology, efficacy evaluation, and studies on specific TCM components. Conclusion Research on TCM monomers for cartilage injury treatment is emerging as a new academic hotspot. This study is expected to provide research evidence to promote the development of clinical applications.