Health Applications

• Asthma
• Glaucoma (topical)
• Cardiovascular health
• Psoriasis

History and Traditional Use
In India, coleus has a long history of use in the Ayurvedic, Siddha, and Unani medical systems.¹ Coleus has traditionally been used to treat a wide variety of ailments, including cardiovascular disease, eczema, colic, respiratory disorders, insomnia, and convulsions.¹

Chemical Composition
The active constituent in coleus is a diterpene derivative known as forskolin, which has demonstrated a wide range of physiological activity.^2-18 Coleus forskohlii is the only coleus species that contains forskolin.¹

Contemporary Uses
Modern research suggests that many of the traditional medicinal uses of coleus may have some merit. Research has shown that forskolin has the unique ability to increase tissue levels of cAMP,^2,3 a compound involved in numerous cellular activities. In vitro studies indicate that forskolin inhibits the release of thromboxane B-2 and helps relax airway smooth muscle tissues,^4-6 which may be helpful for asthma sufferers. In one small study, forskolin capsules produced measurable bronchodilation and increased airway conduction in asthma patients.⁷ Larger, long-term studies are needed to confirm these preliminary findings. Because forskolin increases tissue cAMP levels, some scientists believe it may prove useful in the treatment of psoriasis and other skin disorders associated with cAMP imbalance;¹ however, its effectiveness for these applications has not been demonstrated. Research indicates that forskolin may work in several ways to promote cardiovascular health, such as inhibiting lipid peroxidation and platelet aggregation, relaxing blood vessels, lowering blood pressure, and strengthening heart muscle contraction.^8-15 Preliminary research has shown that topical application of forskolin to the eyes can decrease intraocular pressure, suggesting a potential role in the treatment of glaucoma;^16,17 however, these effects have yet to be demonstrated in large-scale trials.

Dosage/Toxicity
The daily dosage recommendation for coleus products depends on their forskolin content. A typical recommendation is 50 mg of an extract standardized to contain 18 percent forskolin, two to three times daily.¹ Forskolin has shown very low toxicity in animal studies.¹ Because forskolin may potentiate the effects of certain medications, people taking prescription antiasthmatics or blood pressure lowering drugs should only take coleus products under a doctor's supervision.