Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential of natural products and traditional Chinese medicine formulas in ADHD: a review of preclinical evidence.
- 2026-03-20
- Frontiers in pharmacology 17
- Han Deng
- Bo Li
- Yuze Mu
- Weili Xia
- Ning Weng
- PubMed: 41939832
- DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2026.1766222
Study Design
- Type
- Review
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental condition marked by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Although current pharmacotherapies are effective for many patients, their clinical utility is frequently limited by insufficient efficacy, adverse effects, and concerns regarding long-term tolerability or patient acceptance. Accordingly, increasing research attention has been directed toward the therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas and other natural products, which are thought to offer multi-target mechanisms and holistic regulatory effects. This review provides a critical synthesis of recent preclinical studies, focusing on the molecular mechanisms by which specific TCM formulas and natural products ameliorate ADHD-like behaviors. We delineate these actions across several biological scales, including the modulation of catecholamine neurotransmission, enhancement of neurodevelopment and synaptic plasticity, attenuation of neuroinflammation, and regulation of the gut-brain axis. In addition, this review highlights current limitations, including the overreliance on single animal models and the insufficient integration of pharmacokinetic and translational data. Finally, we discuss future research directions and aim to provide new perspectives for the development of natural product-derived interventions in ADHD management.