Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40251851›Full record

Trial reportJournal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)2025

Daily supplementation with lemon verbena extract decreases subjective energy and parental reports of hyperactivity in children displaying sub-clinical attention deficit hyperactivity disorder-type behaviours: A randomised controlled trial.

Philippa A Jackson, Ellen F Smith, Joanne Forster, Jessica Greener, Anna Small, David O Kennedy, Cynthia G Suarez, Andressa Blainski, Ivo Pischel

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Philippa A JacksonBrain, Performance and Nutrition Research Centre, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-9492-134X
Ellen F SmithBrain, Performance and Nutrition Research Centre, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Joanne ForsterBrain, Performance and Nutrition Research Centre, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Jessica GreenerBrain, Performance and Nutrition Research Centre, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Anna SmallBrain, Performance and Nutrition Research Centre, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
David O KennedyBrain, Performance and Nutrition Research Centre, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Cynthia G SuarezFinzelberg GmbH & Co.KG, Andernach, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-9568-6556
Andressa BlainskiFinzelberg GmbH & Co.KG, Andernach, Germany.
Ivo PischelDr. Ivo Pischel Consulting, Rossbach, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-4111-7726

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCurrent treatment options for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are limited by factors such as adherence and cost, whilst no treatment options are available for sub-clinical or undiagnosed ADHD. Herbal preparations may therefore offer an alternative approach to the management of symptoms;

aimTo assess the behavioural, cognitive, psychological and physiological effects of 56 days of supplementation with lemon verbena extract (LVE) in children exhibiting symptoms of ADHD at the sub-clinical level.

methodsThis exploratory study followed a randomised, double-blind parallel groups design wherein 120 healthy participants aged 8-17 years received 15 mg/kg bw/d LVE or matched placebo for 56 days. Behavioural, cognitive, mood and physiological measures were collected in the lab at baseline and 28 and 56 days post-dose. Parents also evaluated the child's behaviour throughout the study.

resultsParticipants who received LVE reported greater subjective fatigue, defined as reduced energy levels according to the Profile of Mood States subscale, without impairments in cognitive performance across the 56-day intervention and lower depression symptoms on day 56, compared to placebo. The effect of LVE on parent ratings of hyperactive/impulsive behaviour also approached significance with fewer concerns being reported following the active treatment. Exploratory analyses showed further benefits to cognition and mood.

conclusionsThis study revealed novel, beneficial effects of LVE supplementation in children exhibiting a high frequency of behaviours characteristic of ADHD. Overall, LVE was safe and well-tolerated by participants, with no unexpected safety events.

Indexed as

Attention Deficit Disorder with HyperactivityPlant ExtractsVerbenaAdolescentChildCognitionDietary SupplementsDouble-Blind MethodFatigueFemaleHumansMaleParentsPlant ExtractsADHDAloysia citriodoracognitionLemon verbenaLippia citriodora

Identifiers

PMID40251851
PMCPMC12287557

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.