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Review
. 2024 Sep;48(5):437-448.
doi: 10.1016/j.jgr.2024.05.006. Epub 2024 May 28.

Effect of ginseng and ginsenosides on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A systematic review

Yunna Kim  1   2   3 , Ik-Hyun Cho  1 , Seung-Hun Cho  1   2   3
Affiliations
Review

Effect of ginseng and ginsenosides on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A systematic review

Yunna Kim et al. J Ginseng Res. 2024 Sep.

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a rapidly increasing neurodevelopmental disorder but currently available treatments are associated with abuse risk, side effects, and incomplete symptom relief. There is growing interest in exploring complementary options, and ginseng has gained attention for its therapeutic potential. This systematic review aimed to assess current evidence on the efficacy of ginseng and its active components, ginsenosides, for ADHD. Eligible studies were identified through searches of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, up to June 2023. The inclusion criteria included both human and animal studies that investigated the effects of ginseng or ginsenosides on ADHD. The risk of bias was assessed according to study type. Six human studies and three animal studies met the inclusion criteria. The results suggest that ginseng and ginsenosides may have beneficial effects on ADHD symptoms, particularly inattention, through dopaminergic/norepinephrinergicmodulation and BDNF/TrkB signaling. Ginseng and ginsenosides have promising potential for ADHD treatment. Due to limitations in evidence quality, such as the risk of bias and variability in study designs, larger controlled studies are essential. Integrating ginseng into ADHD management may have valuable implications for individuals seeking well-tolerated alternatives or adjunctive therapies.

Keywords: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; Dopamine; Ginseng; Ginsenoside; Systematic review.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Image 1
Graphical abstract
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow chart of the included studies.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Quality assessment of human studies included in systematic review of the effects of ginseng and ginsenosides on ADHD. Risk of bias assessment (A) of randomized controlled trials was performed using Cochrane risk of bias assessment 2.0 tool and (B) of pre-post study with no controls was performed using National Institutes of Health quality assessment tool.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Quality assessment of animal studies included in systematic review of the effects of ginseng and ginsenosides on ADHD. Risk of bias assessment was performed using (A) SYstematic Review Centre for Laboratory animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) and (B) a modified scale from the Collaborative Approach to Meta-Analysis and Review of Animal Data from Experimental Studies (CAMARADES).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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