Coleus > Uses

Nutritional Supplement

Coleus

Traditional Use (May Not Be Supported by Scientific Studies)

As recorded in ancient Sanskrit texts, coleus was used in Ayurvedic medicine11 to treat heart and lung diseases, intestinal spasms, insomnia, and convulsions.

References

1. Seamon KB, Daly JW. Forskolin: A unique diterpene activator of cAMP-generating systems. J Cyclic Nucleotide Res 1981;7:201-24 [review].

2. Wysham DG, Brotherton AF, Heistad DD. Effects of forskolin on cerebral blood flow: Implications for the role of adenylate cyclase. Stroke 1986;17:1299-303.

3. Marone G, Columbo M, Triggiani M, et al. Forskolin inhibits the release of histamine from human basophils and mast cells. Agents Actions 1986;18:96-9.

4. Roger PP, Servais P, Dumont JE. Regulation of dog thyroid epithelial cell cycle by forskolin, an adenylate cyclase activator. Exp Cell Res 1990;172:282-92.

5. Wong S, Mok W, Phaneuf S, et al. Forskolin inhibits platelet-activating factor binding to platelet receptors independently of adenylyl cyclase activation. Eur J Pharmacol 1993;245:55-61.

6. Agarwal KC, Parks RE. Forskolin: A potential antimetastatic agent. Int J Cancer 1983;32:801-4.

7. Caprioli J, Sears M. Forskolin lowers intraocular pressure in rabbits, monkeys and man. Lancet 1983;1:958-60.

8. Badian M, Dabrowski J, Grigoleit HG, et al. Effect of forskolin eyedrops on intraocular pressure in healthy males. Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd 1984;185:522-6 [in German].

9. Kramer W, Thormann J, Kindler M, Schlepper M. Effects of forskolin on left ventricular function in dilated cardiomyopathy. Arzneimittelforschung 1987;37:364-7.

10. Bauer K, Dietersdorfer F, Sertl K, et al. Pharmacodynamic effects of inhaled dry powder formulations of fenoterol and colforsin in asthma. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1993;43:76-83.

11. Dubey MP, Srimal RC, Nityanand S, Dhawan BN. Pharmacological studies on coleonol, a hypotensive diterpene from Coleus forskohlii. J Ethnopharmacol 1981;3:1–13.

12. Bone K, Morgan M. Clinical Applications of Ayurvedic and Chinese Herbs: Monographs for the Western Herbal Practitioner. Queensland, Australia: Phytotherapy Press, 1996.