Scientific Profile of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics Fields in Middle East Countries: Impacts of Iranian Scientists

Abstract

In the present investigation, a statistical analysis was conducted to evaluate the production of scientific papers in the fields of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical during a period of 1996-2007. The study identified the most active countries in the Middle East in comparison with some more developed countries, in which the most scientific impacts have been exerted. Our screenings through the most accessed data bases revealed that USA, Japan, UK and Germany are the leading countries regarding scientific publications and citations, since 51% of all citable-publications and 58% of total citations in the subject area belong to these scientifically prolific countries. The contribution of different world region during the studied period was: Western Europe (34.10%), Northern America (31.40%), Asiatic Region (21.50%), Eastern Europe (4.60%), Pacific Region (2.20%), Middle East (1.90%), Southern Africa (0.40%), Central Africa (0.30%), and Northern Africa, (0.10%). Within Middle-East region, Islamic Republic of Iran has produced 21.5% of total citable-publication and 13.7% citations, while such values for Egypt are 23% and 17.4%, respectively. A significant increase in scientific trend of the related subjects by Iranian scientists not only reveals a rapid and substantial growth of the number of scientific publications but also highlights the impacts of Iranian scientists within world scientific community.