Coleus Forskohlii herb by Ray Sahelian, M.D. Health benefit of Coleus Forskohlii extract

Coleus forskohlii is an important traditional Ayurvedic herb that has been a part of Indian medicine for centuries. In the 1970s researchers isolated a chemically active extract from coleus forskohlii and called it forskolin. Now available in supplement form, coleus forskohlii extract has been tested in a number of conditions. Coleus forskohlii is found in an all natural herbal diet pill called Diet Rx which effectively suppresses appetite.

Coleus forskohlii extract, 60 Capsules - Enzymatic Therapy
Diet Rx with coleus forskohlii - medical doctor formulated

Coleus Forskohlii extract is produced from the root of Coleus forskohlii, an ancient Ayurvedic plant. Coleus forskohlii is the source of a unique substance known as forskolin.  Modern extraction and analytical techniques are used to produce the highest quality extract available. Each batch of Coleus Forskohlii extract is analyzed and guaranteed to contain a minimum of 18% forskolin. This herb is found in an appetite suppressing formulas called Diet Rx and in a sexual enhancing product called Passion Rx.

Click here to buy Coleus Forskohlii, get a FREE bottle of Diet Rx appetite suppressant, Passion Rx sexual enhancer, or to see a complete list of top quality products
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Coleus Forskohlii Supplement Facts
Coleus Forskohlii root extract - 50 mg - Standardized to contain 18% Forskolin (9 mg per capsule)
 Suggested use: One capsule coleus forskohlii extract once or twice daily before breakfast or lunch.
* Coleus Forskohlii daily values not established.

Chemical composition of coleus forskohlii
In addition to forskolin, this herb has labdane diterpene glycosides forskoditerpenosides A, B. Additional compounds include deoxycoleon U, demethylcryptojaponol, coleonol, alpha-amyrin, betulic acid, alpha-cedrol and beta-sitosterol.

 Passion Rx -- For Men and Women -- Formulated by Ray Sahelian, M.D. with Coleus Forskohlii
How quickly does Passion Rx work?
 Passion Rx provides results that are sometimes seen the first or second day, but continue to improve with use. Our feedback thus far indicates more than 80% user satisfaction by the end of the first week, and 90 percent by the end of the second week. Dr. Sahelian and his research staff have tested various doses and extracts of exotic herbs from a number or raw material suppliers to determine the ideal dose and combination for optimal sexual enhancement with fewest side effects. After years of trial and error,  a unique blend of more than a dozen herbal extracts has been created. This unique blend is a close kept secret known only to Dr. Sahelian and his research staff.

Passion Rx enhances:

The potent herbal extracts in Passion Rx include Ashwagandha, Aspallum purificata, Catuaba, Cnidium, Coleus forskohlii, Damiana herb, DMAE, Jujube extract, Horny goat weed extract, Maca, Mucuna pruriens, Muira puama, Passion flower, Pfaffia paniculata, Rehmannia, Rhodiola, Tribulus, and tongkat ali. There is also a version of Passion Rx with yohimbe.

Coleus forskohlii research - use for weight loss
 Effects of Coleus forskohlii on Fat Storage in Ovariectomized Rats.
Yakugaku Zasshi. 2005 May;125(5):449-53.
The antiobesity effects of Coleus forskohlii were investigated in ovariectomized (ovx) rats. Eight-week-old female Wistar rats were assigned to four groups: a sham-operated group fed the control diet (MF, sham-m) ; an ovx-m group fed the control diet; a sham-operated group fed the control diet containing 50 g/kg of Coleus forskohlii extract (sham-c) ; and an ovx-c group fed the control diet containing 50 g/kg of Coleus forskohlii extract. The body weight, adipose tissues, and cell diameter were investigated in ovx rats after Coleus forskohlii extract treatment. Administration of Coleus forskohlii extracts reduced body weight, food intake, and fat accumulation in ovx rats. Our results suggest that Coleus forskohlii may be useful in the treatment of obesity.

Induction of Drug Metabolism by Forskolin, the Role of The Pregnane X Receptor and the PKA Signal Transduction Pathway.
J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2004 Sep 30  Ding X, Staudinger J. University of Kansas.
An extract of the plant Coleus forskohlii has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine to treat various diseases such as hypothyroidism, heart disease and respiratory disorders. Additionally, complex herbal mixtures containing this extract are gaining popularity in United States for their putative 'fat-burning' properties. The active ingredient in Coleus forskohlii extract is the diterpene compound forskolin. Forskolin is a widely used biochemical tool that activates adenyl cyclase, thereby increasing intracellular concentration of cAMP, and thus activating the PKA signal transduction pathway. Fforskolin induces CYP3A gene expression in primary hepatocytes by functioning as agonists of the pregnane X receptor. Herbal therapy with Coleus forskohlii extract should be approached cautiously due to the potential for herb-drug interactions in patients on combination therapy.

Some marketers are promoting the extract forskolin from coleus forskohlii as a way to maintain lean body mass. They call this extract Forslean. A study published in the December 2005 Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition entitled "Effects of Coleus forskohlii extract supplementation on body composition and markers of health in sedentary overweight females" says that ForsLean, Sabinsa Corporation's patented Coleus forskohlii extract, promotes favorable changes in body composition. The 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 23 overweight women conducted by researchers in the Exercise & Sport Nutrition Lab at the Center for Exercise, Nutrition & Preventive Health Research at Baylor University revealed that individuals receiving ForsLean coleus forskohlii extract showed decreases in body mass and reported less fatigue and hunger. Additionally, no clinically significant interactions were seen in metabolic markers, blood lipids, muscle and liver enzymes, electrolytes, red cells, white cells, hormones (insulin, TSH, T3, T4), heart rate or blood pressure. Study participants were given either 250 mg of ForsLean (standardized to 10 percent diterpene forskolin) or a placebo twice daily for 12 weeks. ForsLean is an extract derived from Coleus forskohlii roots, and the only known plant source of forskolin, a natural compound that has been shown to increase lean body mass and help optimize body composition through cAMP activation.

Coleus forskohlii extract for asthma
Relaxant effects of forskolin on guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle.
Lung. 1987;165(4):225-37.
We investigated the relaxant effects of forskolin, a diterpene derivative isolated from the roots of Coleus forskohlii, on guinea pig airway smooth muscle. Forskolin caused dose-dependent relaxant effects on resting tone and on leukotriene C4, leukotriene D4, and carbachol-induced contraction of tracheal smooth muscle. Moreover, with propranolol pretreatment the relaxant effect of forskolin on tracheal smooth muscle did not change, whereas with the same pretreatment the relaxant effect of isoproterenol diminished. These results suggest that forskolin relaxes airway smooth muscle in guinea pigs in vitro and in vivo by raising tissue cyclic AMP levels and that its actions are independent of beta-adrenoceptors.

Additional potential properties of Coleus Forskohlii
 Pharmacological studies on coleonol, a hypotensive diterpene from Coleus forskohlii.
J Ethnopharmacol. 1981 Jan;3(1):1-13.
Coleus species have been used in Ayurvedic medicine for heart diseases, spasmodic pain, painful micturition and convulsions. The pharmacological properties of coleonol, a diterpene, isolated from Coleus forskohlii were investigated. Its predominant effect is to lower the blood pressure of anaesthetised cat and rat as well as of the spontaneously hypertensive rat due to relaxation of the vascular smooth muscle. In small doses it has a positive inotropic effect on isolated rabbit heart as well as on cat heart in vivo. Coleonol also exhibits nonspecific spasmolytic activity on smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal tract in various species but not on bronchial musculature of guinea pig. Large doses of coleonol have a depressant action on the central nervous system.

Coleus forskohlii and forskolin mechanism of action
Forskolin is a diterpene from the roots of the Indian plant coleus forskohli which directly activates adenylate cyclase and raises cyclic AMP levels in a variety of tissues. Cyclic AMP is an important cell regulating compound. Once formed it activates many other enzymes involved in diverse cellular functions. Under normal situations cAMP is formed when a stimulatory hormone (e.g., epinephrine) binds to a receptor site on the cell membrane and stimulates the activation of adenylate cyclase. This enzyme is incorporated into all cellular membranes and only the specificity of the receptor determines which hormone will activate it in a particular cell. Forskolin appears to bypass this need for direct hormonal activation of adenylate cyclase. As a result of this direct activation of adenylate cyclase, intracellular cAMP levels rise. The physiological and biochemical effects of a raised intracellular cAMP level include: inhibition of platelet activation; inhibition of mast cell degranulation and histamine release; increased force of contraction of heart muscle; relaxation of the arteries and other smooth muscles; increased insulin secretion; and increased thyroid function.

High Quality products formulated by a medical doctor
 Mind Power Rx for better mental focus, concentration, and mood; Diet Rx which helps you eat less. It really does curb appetite; Good Night Rx for better sleep; Eyesight Rx for better vision, often within days; MultiVit Rx a daily comprehensive multivitamin for more energy and vitality; Joint Power Rx for healthy joints; Prostate Power Rx for a healthy prostate gland; and Passion Rx for sexual enhancement, better libido, and improved performance and stamina in men and women.

 

Coleus Forskohlii extract availability from herb and ingredient suppliers
Coleus forskohlii is available as a plain powder or in various extract potencies, for instance 10 percent forskolin, 18 percent forskolin, and 20 percent forskolin.

Coleus Forskohlii emails
Q. Does coleus forskohlii reduce blood pressure?
   A. We have not seen any definitive human research evaluating coleus forskohlii and hypertension in humans but it appears that coleonol, a substance found in this herb, can reduce blood pressure in rodents..

Q. Are there any known reactions or side effects to the use of coleus forskohlii when a person is on prescription drugs? I saw Duke university report on  coleus forskohli and am interested in the product.
   A. There have hardly been any human studies with coleus forskohlii, therefore we don't know what kind of interactions there could be when this herb or its extract is combined with prescription medicines.

Q. Have you written any articles about the research on coleus forskohlii and chronic bladder infections. My local newspaper had a short article on this. I recently ordered a bottle and am taking it along with Macrobid one time a day as a preventative. I have a fifty year history of UTIs and am always on antibiotics.
   A. Yes, we saw this article but since no human studies are yet available, we don't know if coleus forskohlii supplement will work in humans, and if it does what the ideal dosage would be and how often it should be taken.

Q. I'm looking for a source for coleus forskohlii -- in tea or ground forms. Do you know where I can get this in bulk? I'd prefer that it be organically grown, since it's for an eye compress to treat borderline glaucoma.
   A. The suppliers we are aware of only sell coleus forskohlii powder in large quantities such as 25 kilo.

Q. Does coleus forskolii work for decreasing ocular pressure? Is the coleus forskolii in Passion RX the same amount as it is in the product that just contains coleus forskolii? The person who is wanting to find an alternative to prescription eye drops is experiencing problems that the passion Rx works well for; this person thought it had to do with side effects of the prescription eye drops as low libido and fatigue are common side effects. Do you know of research for lowered ocular pressure and use of coleus forskolii? I have only seen it for losing weight and for healthy subjects (not those with glaucoma) related to ocular pressure.
   A. We have not seen any clinical studies regarding the use of a coleus forskohlii supplement and ocular pressure measurements. The amount of coleus forskohlii in Passion Rx is much much less than in a capsule of a pure coleus forskohlii product.

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This coleus forskohlii page was last updated in January 2008.