Kaempferia parviflora in Erectile Dysfunction: An Integrative Bibliometric and Narrative Synthesis

Abstract

Kaempferia parviflora Wall. Ex Baker, commonly known as black ginger, has attracted increasing scientific interest because of its diverse phytochemical and pharmacological properties, including potential relevance to male sexual function and erectile dysfunction. This study aimed to map global research trends on K. parviflora and synthesize the available evidence concerning its relevance to erectile dysfunction. Bibliographic records published between 2015 and 2025 were retrieved from the Scopus database using predefined search terms. Following a PRISMA-adapted screening process, 69 publications were included in the final dataset. Bibliometric analyses were performed using the Bibliometrix package through the Biblioshiny interface and VOSviewer, while a narrative synthesis was used to interpret the principal phytochemical and mechanistic findings. Publication output increased during the study period, with research contributions predominantly originating from Asian countries, particularly Thailand. The research landscape evolved from phytochemical characterization and preliminary biological activity studies toward pharmacological, mechanistic, pharmacokinetic, and computational investigations. Polymethoxyflavones emerged as the principal bioactive constituents of interest, while phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibition, nitric oxide–cyclic guanosine monophosphate signaling, vascular modulation, and antioxidant activity represented mechanisms potentially relevant to erectile function. Keyword mapping also indicated increasing use of molecular docking and network pharmacology to explore compound–target interactions. Nevertheless, the literature remains dominated by preclinical studies, whereas controlled clinical evidence, standardized extract formulations, dose–response data, long-term safety evaluations, and assessments of herb–drug interactions remain limited. This integrative bibliometric and narrative review provides a structured overview of the K. parviflora research landscape and identifies priorities for future pharmacological and clinical investigations. The findings indicate potential relevance to erectile dysfunction research but do not establish clinical efficacy or therapeutic effectiveness.