Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41007011›Full record

ReviewChildren (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Medicinal Plants for Child Mental Health: Clinical Insights, Active Compounds, and Perspectives for Rational Use.

Giovanna Rigillo, Joan M C Blom, Arianna Cocchi, Valentina Martinucci, Francesca Favaro, Giulia Baini, Giorgio Cappellucci, Fabio Tascedda, Marco Biagi

Registry-linked trialAbstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Children (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07592130 (Anxiolytic Effect of Inhaled Melissa Officinalis Essential Oil During Mandibular Local Anesthesia in Pediatric Dental Patients), which is not on this map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing 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.

NCT07592130 phase2not yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

Anxiolytic Effect of Inhaled Melissa Officinalis Essential Oil During Mandibular Local Anesthesia in Pediatric Dental Patients: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversidad Autonoma de San Luis PotosíRan2026 to 2027Enrolled45ConditionsEmotional Anxiety and Stress During Pediatric Dental Treatment, Dental AnesthesiaArmsAromatherapy with Melissa officinalis essential oil - Brand A, Aromatherapy with Melissa officinalis essential oil - Brand B, Standard behavioral management
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Review
  3. Unraveling the Effects ofInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2025
    Review
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.

Giovanna RigilloDepartment of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-8853-4431
Joan M C BlomDepartment of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-4974-1964
Arianna CocchiPediatrica S.r.l., 57121 Livorno, Italy.ORCID 0009-0005-6651-3524
Valentina MartinucciPediatrica S.r.l., 57121 Livorno, Italy.ORCID 0009-0003-6189-006X
Francesca FavaroPediatrica S.r.l., 57121 Livorno, Italy.ORCID 0009-0005-4433-3733
Giulia BainiDepartment of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy.
Giorgio CappellucciDepartment of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy.
Fabio TasceddaDepartment of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-3422-004X
Marco BiagiDepartment of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-2997-4178

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesAnxiety, agitation, and mood disturbances are increasingly common among children and adolescents. Given the limitations of conventional pharmacological treatments in the pediatric population, particularly for subthreshold or mild conditions, interest in complementary approaches such as phytotherapy is growing. This review aims to critically evaluate the clinical evidence supporting the use of herbal medicines and botanical food supplements for mental health symptoms in youths and to explore the pharmacological basis of their activity.

methodsA systematic search was conducted across main databases for clinical trials involving herbal products for psychologically related symptoms in children and adolescents. Eligible studies included those using registered herbal medicines, as well as authorized food supplements, that evaluated behavioral or cognitive outcomes. In addition, bioinformatic analyses were performed on selected phytocompounds to predict their molecular targets.

resultsTwenty-nine clinical trials were identified, including eighteen targeting pathological conditions (notably attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, and depression) and eleven addressing borderline symptoms such as nervous agitation, restlessness, or sleep disturbances. Herbal products showing clinical promise include

conclusionsThis review highlights both the potential and the current limitations of herbal products in pediatric mental health care. Evidence supports their use for selected indications, provided that standardized preparations and clinical oversight are ensured. Further research is essential, particularly to inform dosing, safety, and integrative care strategies.

Indexed as

botanicalschildrenclinical studymental healthphytotherapytarget prediction

Identifiers

PMID41007011
PMCPMC12468278

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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 Socratic graph.