COMMON NAME

Forskohlii / Indian coleus

TOP BENEFITS OF COLEUS FORSKOHLII

• Supports cardiovascular function *
• Supports cognitive performance *
• Supports antioxidant defenses *
• Supports healthy cellular responses *
• Supports healthy weight and bone structure *

WHAT IS COLEUS FORSKOHLII?

Coleus forskohlii, also known as Plectranthus barbatus (they are taxonomic synonyms) has a long history of use in traditional medicine worldwide, particularly in Ayurvedic medicine. It belongs to the same family as mint and lavender and is used as a condiment herb in India. Traditional uses of C. forskohlii include the support of gastrointestinal, liver, respiratory, cardiovascular, and nervous system function and health. C. forskohlii root is a source of a unique compound called forskolin, also known as coleonol. Forskolin supports the adenylate cyclase enzyme, allowing it to increase the levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), which acts as a messenger molecule inside cells and is involved in many important signaling pathways and physiological functions [1–3].

NEUROHACKER’S COLEUS FORSKOHLII SOURCING

Coleus forskohlii Extract is made from roots of the plants harvested in India. It is standardized to contain not less than 20% Forskolin.

Coleus forskohlii extract is non-GMO and vegan.

COLEUS FORSKOHLII DOSING PRINCIPLES AND RATIONALE

The amount of Coleus forskohlii extract used in studies has usually been based on the standardization and the amount of forskolin, since this is the marker compound for the plant. In humans, forskolin has been administered at doses ranging from 10 to 50 mg/day. If the extract’s role in a formula is to solely support the cAMP enzyme, our dose will be lower than this range. If the role is based on a structure or function benefit from a human study, the dose selected would be consistent with the studied dose. Because many herbal extracts tend to follow hormetic dosing principles (see Neurohacker Dosing Principles), we believe that choosing a lower dose, especially when combined with other complementary ingredients, is sufficient to support healthy cellular function. 

COLEUS FORSKOHLII KEY MECHANISMS

Cellular function

• Supports the adenylate cyclase enzyme [4–6]

Brain function    

• Influences acetylcholinesterase activity – supports acetylcholine levels [7–9]
• Supports late LTP (via cAMP and the mTOR pathway) [10]
• Influences neural cytokine signaling [11]

Heart and vascular health

• Influences platelet aggregation [12–14]
• Supports vasodilation [14]
• Supports healthy blood pressure [14–16]
• Supports cardiac muscle strength (positive inotropic activity) [14]

General health

• Supports metabolic function [17,18]
• Supports lipolysis (via cAMP upregulation) [5]
• Supports healthy body composition [18,19]
• Supports bone health [17,18,20]
• Supports antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities [7,21,22]
• Supports immune signaling [11,22]

REFERENCES
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