Forskolina: What is it? Does it make you lose weight? Supplements, Risks and Benefits

, coleus, Indian coleus, Indian mint or false boldo. C. forskohlii is a plant widespread in Asia and native to countries such as India and Thailand. The plant is widely used by alternative medicines in these territories, such as Ayurvedic medicine and Chinese medicine. In its countries of origin, however, coleus it is also used in the food sector, where it is used as a condiment or spice.

In the Western world, the plant and the forskolin found in its root extracts are known above all for their likely fat-burning and weight-loss properties.

(increased contractile force of the heart muscle);

Hypotensive action;

Vasodilator activity;

Bronchodilator action;

Relaxing activity for smooth muscles;

Antiplatelet activity;

Anti-glaucoma action;

Stimulation of insulin release (so far, only proven in vitro).

Despite this, the attention on forskolin has been aroused above all for the lipolysis stimulating properties that the molecule seems to exert. Another action attributed to forskolin that seems to arouse some interest is that of stimulating the functionality of the thyroid gland in healthy subjects, favoring the secretion of hormones produced by this gland; however, this property has yet to be proven.

Several studies have been conducted on forskolin in order to demonstrate the aforementioned activities; some of them have given encouraging results, but further and in-depth research would be needed before any therapeutic application of forskolin can be proposed and approved.

adenylate cyclase inducing an increase in the intracellular levels of AMPc (cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate). The latter is an important second messenger involved in various intracellular signal transduction mechanisms that are activated following stimuli of different types, such as those deriving from hormones, neurotransmitters, etc.

The activities attributed to forskolin would derive precisely from the increase in AMPc levels, including the fat-burning action attributed to the molecule. The increase in the concentration of cyclic AMP in the adipocytes, in fact, would determine a cascade of reactions that involve the involvement of different proteins up to the activation of lipases, and therefore of lipolysis. Lipolysis is the catabolic process by which triglycerides are broken down, releasing fatty acids and glycerol which are released into the circulation for energy purposes. Forskolin, therefore, thanks to the aforementioned mechanism of action and the increase in lipolysis that it seems to induce, could prove useful in improving lipid and energy metabolism, assisting the slimming process and body weight loss.

.

Shutterstock Roots of Coleus forskohlii

In the field of food supplements, forskolin, or rather, the root extracts of Coleus forskohlii that contain it are used by virtue of the fat-burning actions that the molecule should exercise, in order to create products that can prove to be an aid to the slimming treatment.

In the experimental field, on the other hand, and in particular, in research concerning cell physiology, forskolin is used for its ability to increase the levels of cyclic AMP at the intracellular level, in order to study the effects and consequences that arise from variations in the concentration of this second messenger.

of overweight men.

The administration, twice a day, of 250 mg of extract of Coleus forskohlii standardized to 10% in forskolin, in association with a low-calorie diet, could prove useful in the management of metabolic risk factors.

The administration of 500 mg per day (in two divided doses) of C. forskohlii titrated to 10% in forskolin in a group of overweight women, it prevented their weight gain compared to the group of women who were part of the same study but who did not receive the extract of the plant containing forskolin.