title: An open-label study to elucidate the effects of standardized Bacopa monnieri extract in the management of symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a clinically heterogeneous disorder of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity or difficulty in controlling behavior. Psychostimulant medications remain the mainline treatment for children with ADHD; however, the average response rate to these medications is 70%, and up to 30% of children do not respond to these medications or are unable to tolerate such potential adverse effects as nausea, insomnia, and weight loss.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study investigated the effectiveness of standardized Bacopa monnieri extract (SBME) in ameliorating the severity of the symptoms of ADHD in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical trial was conducted as an open-label study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted at the Center for Research in Mental Retardation (CREMERE) in Mumbai, India, from 2008 to 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one children were participants in the trial. They were 6-12 y of age, with an age of onset of ADHD before 7 y of age, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria for ADHD.
  
  
  METHODS
  The children received SBME at a dose of 225 mg/d for a period of 6 mo. The specific SBME used in the study was BacoMind (M/s Natural Remedies, Bangalore, India).
  
  
  METHODS
  Subsequent to the screening of participants, the research team administered the Parent Rating Scale to assess the ADHD symptom scores at baseline, and the team administered it again at the end of the 6 mo of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SBME significantly reduced the subtests scores of ADHD symptoms, except for social problems. The symptom scores for restlessness were reduced in 93% of children, whereas improvement in self-control was observed in 89% of the children. The attention-deficit symptoms were reduced in 85% of children. Similarly, symptom scores for learning problems, impulsivity, and psychiatric problems were reduced for 78%, 67%, and 52% of children, respectively. It was observed that 74% of the children exhibited up to a 20% reduction, while 26% of children showed between a 21% and a 50% reduction in the total subtests scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Standardized extract of B monnieri was found to be effective in alleviating the symptoms of ADHD and was well-tolerated by the children.
authors.forename: Usha Pinakin
authors.initials: UP
authors.lastname: Dave
authors.forename: Sunila Rajeev
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Dingankar
authors.forename: Vinod Swaroop
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Saxena
authors.forename: Joshua Allan
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: Bharathi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bethapudi
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: Venkateshwarlu
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kudiganti
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D034681:Bacopa / Q000737:chemistry*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts