Assessment of probiotic strain Lactobacillus acidophilus LB supplementation as adjunctive management of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to examine the possible efficacy of the probiotic strain Lactobacillus acidophilus LB (Lacteol Fort) on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptomatology and evaluate its influence on cognition function. METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, 80 children and adolescents with ADHD diagnosis, aged 6-16 years, were included. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups: one group received probiotics plus atomoxetine, whereas the other group received atomoxetine only. ADHD symptomatology was assessed using the Conners Parent Rating Scale-Revised Long Version (CPRS-R-L) and Child Behavioral Checklist (CBCL/6-18). The participants were evaluated for their vigilance and executive function using Conner's Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and Wisconsin Card Sort Test (WCST). Both groups were assessed at the beginning of the study and the end of the twelve weeks. RESULTS: The probiotic group comprised 36 patients, whereas the control group comprised 40 patients in the final analysis after four patients dropped out of the trial. After 3 months of probiotic supplementation, a significant improvement in the CPRS-R-L and CBCL total T scores was observed compared with those in the control group (p = 0.032, 0.024, respectively). Additionally, the probiotic group demonstrated improved focus attention (target accuracy rate and omission errors;p = 0.02, 0.043, respectively) compared with the control group. An analysis of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) performance demonstrated that the probiotic group had significantly lower perseverative (p = 0.017) and non-perseverative errors (p = 0.044) but no significant differences compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Lactobacillus acidophilus LB supplementation combined with atomoxetine for 3 months had a beneficial impact on ADHD symptomology and a favorable influence on cognitive performance. As a result, the efficacy of probiotics as an adjunctive treatment for managing ADHD may be promising. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT04167995). Registration date: 19-11-2019.

Essential Oils Composition and Biological Activity of Chamaecyparis obtusa, Chrysopogon nigritanus and Lavandula coronopifolia Grown Wild in Sudan.

Generally, there are scant data about the constituents and eventually the biological activity of essential oils (EOs) from aromatic plants that grow naturally in Sudan. The present study aimed to determine the chemical composition, and antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities of EO extracted from the fruit of Chamaecyparis obtusa (Siebold and Zucc.) Endl. (family Cupressaceae), root of Chrysopogon nigritanus (Benth.) Veldkampis (family Poaceae) and aerial part of Lavandula coronopifolia Poir (family Lamiaceae). The fruit of C. obtusa contained only monoterpenes, mainly hydrogenated ones, with α-pinene (69.07%) as the major component. Oxygenated sesquiterpenes comprised the highest content of the C. nigritanus root EO with cedr-8-en-15-ol (28.69%) as the major constituent while aerial parts of L. coronopifolia contained both monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes and the oxygenated monoterpene lavandulol (26.56%) as dominant compounds. The EO of the root of C. nigritanus significantly displayed (p < 0.05) the highest anti-DPPH radical, Fe3+- and Cu2+-reducing and metal-chelating activities, while that of C. obtusa fruit significantly exerted (p < 0.05) the best anti-ABTS radical and total antioxidant activity. The two EOs significantly exhibited (p < 0.05) the highest anti-acetylcholinesterase and -butyrylcholinesterase activities, respectively, while EO of L. coronopifolia was the only oil to show a considerable inhibitory effect against the tyrosinase and α-glucosidase enzymes. In conclusion, EOs from these three plants could be natural agents with promising functional properties for food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical applications.