Phytochemicals impacting attentional deficits? "There is a fair indication of the efficacy and safety of Melissa officinalis L., Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst., Matricaria chamomilla L., and Valeriana officinalis L. from the studies evaluated in this systematic review for the treatment of various symptoms of ADHD. Limited evidence was found for Ginkgo biloba L. and pine bark extract." https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.827411 Saffron Research for ADHD in children [1, 2] is promising and as an augmentation option with methylphenidate in adults [3] [1] https://doi.org/10.1089/cap.2018.0146 [2] https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14194046 [3] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aimed.2022.01.002 Oroxylin A Preclinical studies showed that Oroxylin A or its derivative (5,7-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-4′- phenoxyflavone) produced improvement of ADHD-like behaviors, through enhancement of dopamine. Improvements in humans of some aspects of cognition have been noted in recent studies. [1] https://doi.org/10.1007/s12272-013-0009-6 1 Pine bark extract Pycnogenol a combination of procyanidins, bioflavonoids and phenolic acid extracts from Pinus pinaster Aiton (Pinaceae) bark restored an induced decrease in DA in models A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 61 participants (ages 6–14 years) reported that Pycnogenol treatment (1 mg/kg/day) for 1 month alleviated ADHD symptoms ⦁ Pinus extracts improved lack of attention and restlessness. [1] https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.7036 Bacopa (Brahmi) B. monnieri has been shown to help cognitive performance in adolescents with ADHD Exploratory studies showed that Bacopa improves memory and learning in children with ADHD. These findings were further supported by the findings of an open-label study which showed that Bacopa extract (225 mg/day, for 6 months) produced significant improvement in ADHD symptoms of participants (31 children, ages 6–12). In this study, the symptom scores for restlessness were reduced in 93% of children, while self-control was improved in 89% of ADHD participants. The attention-deficit symptoms were also attenuated in 85% of children. Moreover, learning problems, impulsivity, and psychiatric problems symptom scores were reduced for 78%, 67%, and 52% of children, respectively. It was further reported that 74% of the children exhibited up to a 20% reduction, while 26% of children displayed between 21% and 50% reduction in the total subtests scores. The efficacy of Bacopa in this context has been attributed to its neuroprotective and antioxidant effects, as well as regulation of dopamine, and inhibition of cholinesterase https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24682000/ Baikal skullcap Preclinical data supports the notion that the flavonoid baicalin may have a therapeutic action on dopamine-dysregulation disorders, including ADHD. [1] https://molecularbrain.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13041-019-0428-5 Gotu kola C. asiatica accumulates large quantities of pentacyclic triterpenoid saponins, inclusively known as centelloids. These terpenoids include asiatic acid (AA), asiaticoside, brahmic, brahmoside, brahminoside, centelloside, madecassoside, sceffoleoside, and thankuniside Asiatic acid possesses a wide spectrum of biological activities including cognitive effects. Asiatic acid has also shown the capability to improve hippocampal neuronal dendritic aborisation. Increasing the dendritic length of the hippocampal neurons may result in 2 alterations in synaptic connectivity, which may be a factor that improves learning and memory. Acute anxiolytic activity was found for Centella asiatica. C. asiatica could improve alertness and relieve anger. The plant may be an effective means to intervene in neurodegenerative diseases in which neurotrophin deficiency is involved. It is suggested some of the constituents have 5-HT1A/1B mediated action. Rhodiola rosea Rhodiola rosea, family Crassulaceae also known as Golden Root or Arctic root is one of the most widely used medicinal plants with effect on cognitive dysfunction, psychological stress and depression. Rhodiola exerts an anti-stress effect by balancing the HPA axis, it demonstrates multi-target effects on various levels of the regulation of cell response to stress, affecting various components of the neuroendocrine, neurotransmitter receptor and molecular networks associated with possible beneficial effects on mood including depression,"it may be an effective treatment in subjects suffering from prolonged or chronic fatigue. The safety and tolerability of Rhodiola also presented a favorable profile", is promising for burnout "open-label exploratory study are in line with previous findings on the alleviation of life-stress and burnout symptoms by application of R. rosea." and the pronounced stress-protective properties of Rhodiola could also play a role in the improvement of cognitive functions." Results from studies of the root extract involving patients with anxiety (Cropley, Banks, & Boyle, 2015) and depression (Darbinyan et al., 2007) show that it can reduce symptoms when compared with placebo. In adults with stress-related fatigue, an R. rosea extract was no better than a placebo in reducing depression scores (Olsson, von Scheele, & Panossian, 2009). A root extract was also less effective than the standard antidepressant drug sertraline in patients with mild to moderate depression but was associated with fewer adverse events and was better tolerated (Mao et al., 2015). Ashwagandha Ashwagandha may be effective in enhancing both immediate and general memory in people with cognitive impairment as well as improving executive function, attention, and information processing speed. It can serve as a nootropic as well as adaptogen Panax ginseng Total saponins extracted from Panax notoginseng increased the levels of dopamine and noradrenaline. Korean red ginseng "may be an effective and safe alternative treatment for children with inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms." [1] [1] https://doi.org/10.1089/cap.2014.0013 3 St John's Wort Hypericum species may act as mild monoamine uptake inhibitors, elevating monoamines levels in some brain areas. Specific DA uptake was inhibited in a dose dependent manner. The potencies for the uptake inhibition of NA, DA and 5-HT were 30, 7 and 1 for one extract Ginkgo biloba Chronic but not acute treatment with Ginkgo extract increased dopaminergic transmission in the PFC. Flavonol derivatives from Ginkgo the increase of dopaminergic and cholinergic neurotransmission in the prefrontal cortex Some executive functions, selective attention, and long-term memory were all enhanced by its extracts Melissa officinalis Anxiolytic and helps relieve ADHD in both children (low quality evidence) [1] and adults [1] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2016.11.004 Passiflora incarnata With P. incarnata, following oral administration at high dose, the extract exerted an anxiolytic effect that was comparable to diazepam and mediated by the GABAergic system. Lobeline: [CAUTION] Lobeline is of interest for the treatment of drug abuse (including but not limited to methamphetamine, nicotine, cocaine, opioid, and alcohol abuse) and CNS disorders, like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, attention deficit, restlessness, impulsiveness and hyperactivity Lobeline may have potential to benefit symptoms of ADHD, because it redistributes DA and NE stores within neurons. In humans, it seems to mostly offer improvements in working memory (a primary cognitive deficit noted) with less effect on inattention. Lobeline has been reported to enhance the performance of normal rats in a sustained attention task, but at a lesser degree than nicotine One user with ADHD reports on Lobelia: "[a] very noticeable clearing of the head. I find this sensation amazing, similar to the way Ritalin clears the fog and allows me to focus. It is very pleasant if you're beset like me with a persistent brain fog. It's like a cool, dry breeze dispersing the morning haze, or wipers and spray clearing away the pollen, dust and smashed insects off a dirty windshield. Everything is clearer, sharper, more defined. Thoughts and tasks assembled into a logical and efficient order. I felt extraordinarily normal, 4 very straight, supernormal." Lobeline has been found to be 10-fold less potent than nicotine in all aspects with the exception of the anxiolytic-like effects where it is equipotent. Lobeline appears to be equipotent or better than nicotine in reducing anxiety without contributing to a depressive state - improved cognitive performance and learning in animal studies - produced antidepressant-like effects following acute and repeated administrations and enhanced the antidepressant effects of reboxetine, fluoxetine, or bupropion in mice. - may have therapeutic utility to treat alcohol abstinence-induced depression. - anti-aggressive effect - restored psychostimulant induced decreases in dopamine and 5-HT content - was not self-administered Others: Combining magnesium (6 mg/kg/day) with vitamin B6 (0.6 mg/kg/day) during an 8- week treatment course improved ADHD symptoms in children. A 12-week double- blind study found that children supplemented with zinc sulfate (150 mg) showed reduced impulsiveness, hyperactivity, and socialization difficulties. A study by Akhondzadeh et al. also reported alleviation of ADHD symptoms in children given zinc sulfate. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found that iron supplementation in children with ADHD (23 kids, ages 5–8) proved beneficial in relieving ADHD symptom Acetyl-l-carnitine significantly reduced symptoms of ADHD, in particular, hyperactivity and poor social behavior. Theanine produced improvement in selective attention during the execution of mental tasks via modulation of alpha brain wave activity. Currently there are a handful of studies examining the therapeutic potentials of theanine in ADHD. Essential fatty acids have shown some benefit. Vitamin C treatment with alpha linolenic acid- (ALA-) rich nutritional supplementation in the form of flax oil on blood fatty acids composition and behavior in children with ADHD were also examined. This study found that red blood cell membrane fatty acids were significantly improved in ADHD patients receiving the above supplementation and alleviated ADHD symptoms in ADHD patients as evidenced by reduction of hyperactivity scores 5