Coleus Forskohlii is interesting from a scientific and medicinal standpoint because it produces forskolin (see DATA).

It has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of skin rashes, asthma, bronchitis, insomnia, epilepsy, and angina.

Stimulation that is caused by forskolin supposedly leads to blood vessel dilation, inhibition of allergic reactions, and possibly an increased secretion of thyroid hormone.

Forskolin has other reported uses as well, including inhibition of the pro-inflammatory substance known as platelet-activating factor (PAF) 6 and inhibition of the spread of cancer cells.

Interestingly, in 2006, researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the University of Kentucky released results from their studies on forskolin: applied topically, they found it greatly stimulates the skin's melanin production. The result was a true "sunless suntan," with all the implied benefits: a healthy coloration and protection from ultraviolet light damage. There is sure to be more research done in this particular area.

Coleus forskohlii may have some benefit for asthma, heart disease (two studies showed modest benefit) and for glaucoma, based on numerous test tube and animal studies. This relates to its principle activity of increasing cAMP levels inside cells: Cyclic AMP (cAMP) is an important regulator inside cells for a range of important activities. For example, cAMP regulates the amount of calcium ions inside cells, a balance which must be maintained for healthy cell functioning, particularly for skeletal and heart muscle: too much calcium causes cells to die.

Two preliminary controlled studies of forskolin found that oral forskolin may be beneficial for treatment of asthma. Forskolin may work by stabilizing the cells that release histamine and other inflammatory compounds, as well as by relaxing smooth muscle tissue (non-striated muscle, found within the "walls" of hollow organs; such as blood vessels, the tbladder, and the gastrointestinal tract). While these findings have implications for forskolin's use in treating a great number of maladies (from high blood pressure to eczema to irritable bowel syndrome), there is as of yet little direct evidence of its effectiveness in treating any of them.

There is also a remote chance that forskolin may help with excessive fat accumulation, but this is not known. If it lessens accumulated fat, though, one might also worry that it could lessen peripheral fat, which would be of concern to any dealing with lipoatrophy.