Coleus forskohlii research - use for weight lossEffects of Coleus forskohlii on Fat Storage in Ovariectomized Rats.
Yakugaku Zasshi. 2005.
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.
Yakugaku Zasshi. 2005.
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.
Induction of Drug Metabolism by Forskolin, the Role of The Pregnane X Receptor and the PKA Signal Transduction Pathway.
J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2004. University of Kansas.
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. Forskolin induces CYP3A gene expression in primary hepatocytes by functioning as agonists of the pregnane X receptor.
J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2004. University of Kansas.
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. Forskolin induces CYP3A gene expression in primary hepatocytes by functioning as agonists of the pregnane X receptor.
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.
Mechanism of actionForskolin 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.
