Forskolin

Scientific Name(s): Coleus barbatus, Coleus coerulescens, Coleus forskohlii auct., Plectranthus barbatus Andrews, Plectranthus forskalaei, Plectranthus forskohlii, Plectranthus grandis, Plectranthus kilimandschari
Common Name(s): Adel Inj, Asthma X-5, Ele-max, Forskolin, ForsLean, GlucoLean, HL-362, Indian coleus, Interex, Makandi, Mao hou qiao rui hua, Meta-Burn EF, NKH477, Pashanabhedi

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 6, 2021.

Clinical Overview

Use

Forskolin has multiple sites of action and should be used with caution. Forskolin derivatives have been developed for use in cardiovascular conditions. Quality clinical trials are lacking to substantiate claims made of the weight loss properties of forskolin, and clinical studies conducted with oral and inhaled forskolin in patients with asthma are limited.

Dosing

Asthma: Oral forskolin has been studied using 10 mg daily over 2 to 6 months. Obesity/Metabolic syndrome: 250 mg of a 10% forskolin extract twice daily for 12 weeks has been studied.

Contraindications

Case reports are lacking.

Pregnancy/Lactation

Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking. P. barbatus has been traditionally used as an emmenagogue and oral contraceptive.

Interactions

None well documented.

Adverse Reactions

Clinical trial data are generally lacking. Adverse events reported with the use of colforsin (a forskolin derivative) include tachycardia and arrhythmias. Forskolin should be avoided in patients with polycystic kidney disease.

Toxicology

Information is limited. Embryo-related toxicity has been reported.

Scientific Family

• Lamiaceae (mint family)

Botany

P. barbatus is a perennial herb in a large genus of mints. Some of the species within the genus are difficult to distinguish, leading to unclear taxonomy. Synonyms include Plectranthus forskalaei, Plectranthus forskohlii, Plectranthus kilimandschari, Plectranthus grandis, Coleus forskohlii, Coleus barbatus, and Coleus coerulescens.

The plant is native to subtropical and tropical regions of India and East Africa, grows to a height of 60 cm, and has large, soft leaves. Clustered purple-blue flowers appear from fall to late spring.PLANTS 2007, Lukhoba 2006, Alasbahi 2010

History

This species and other related species have been used extensively in many traditional medical systems, including those of Brazil, eastern, and central Africa, as well as India and other Asian countries. Traditional medical uses include the treatment of digestive disorders (stomachache, gastric and intestinal spasm, nausea, as a purgative), skin (burns, wounds, insect bites, allergies), infections (eg, syphilis, ringworm), and other conditions, including neck stiffness, and rheumatism, and as an emmenagogue and oral contraceptive. Forskolin has also been used to treat heart, blood, and circulation conditions, and cancers. In the 1970s, the plant's cardiovascular activity was investigated, while the discovery that the diterpene forskolin directly activates adenylate cyclase (AC) was also made.Lukhoba 2006, Alasbahi 2010, Seamon 2981 Research is largely limited to the use of radiolabeled forskolin to quantify AC and to investigate analogs of forskolin. In India, the plant is cultivated for use in pickles.Alasbahi 2010, Insel 2003, Alasbahi 2010

Chemistry

The main constituents of P. barbatus are the diterpenoids and essential oil. Content of the essential ...