ESSENCE - International Journal for Environmental Rehabilitation and Conservation

Rana et al./Vol. VII [1] 2016/45 – 49

Volume VII: No. 1 2016 [45 – 49] [ISSN 0975 - 6272]
[www.essence-journal.com]

Coleus forskohlii and its forskolin: A review

Rana, Pawan Singh; Saklani, Pooja and Diksha Molpa

Received: February 21, 2016  Accepted: March 01, 2016  Online: June 30, 2016

Abstract

Coleus forskohlii is an important medicinal plant has been analyzed medicinal properties of by
native to India. The herbaceous species grows in various researchers for the presence of
sub tropical warm climate of India, Nepal, phytochemicals and other properties, roots of C.
Myanmar and Sri Lanka. In India it grows in the forkohlii known to contain a labdane diterpenoid
Himalayan Region, extending from Shimla to forskolin. Forskolin have high pharmaceutical
Kumaon and Garhwal hills at an altitude ranging value as it is said to be cAMP genic and other the
from 600 to 2300mts. Currently it is been plant. In recent past many researchers have
cultivated in some part of south and central India. worked upon the cultivated variety of the plant, to
It is the member of had been mint family and determine the biochemical pathway involved in
described in Ayurveda for its medicinal the froskolin biosynthesis. While many
properties. The plant has very high medicinal researchers have been working on the molecular
value. In Uttrakhand the plant has been reported biology of the important terpenoids, involving its
to be used by Bhotias of the district Pitthoragarh biosynthesis, enzymes involved in the pathway
for the treatments of ailments like psoriasis, and the important genes involved. It has been
eczema and cardiac diseases. In the past the plant found that GGPP synthase is the main enzyme
Keywords: Ayurveda | Coleus | diterpenoid, involved in this pathway and hence GGPP
forskolin | GGPP synthase synthase gene has been studied. Forskolin has
very high medicinal value and researchers are
For correspondence: unable to synthesize it in laboratory till now. So,
Department of Zoology and Biotechnology it becomes important for the scientist to develop
HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal, Uttarakhand
high forskolin producing varieties of C. forskohlii.
Email: psrana1989@gmail.com
The present article focuses on the medicinal value
of C. forskohlii and its forskolin.

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Introduction all parts of the plant but the roots are major source
Coleus forskohlii Briq., is an important medicinal (Chandel and Sharma, 1997). Many other
plant of family lamiaceae, growing wild in the phytochemicals also found in the plant as
sub tropical climate of India, Nepal, Bhutan, terpenoids, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes
Thailand, Burma and Sri Lanka. India is glycosides and phenolic glycosides. The plant has
considered to be native place of the plant ((Valdes been used in treatment of various diseases
et al. 1987; Patil et al. 2001). In india the plant worldwide, in Egypt and Africa leaves are used as
grows in the Himalayan region extending from emmenogauge and diuretuic. In Brazil it is used in
Shimla to Kumaon and Garhwal hills (600-2300 treatment of intestinal disorders (Valdes et al.,
altitude). Kurian and Sankar (2007) have reported 1987). In Central India the plant roots are used as
it from South India, Andman Nicobar and North condiments and for making pickles also. The
eastern state also. The plant has been described in plant is used for veterinary purposes also (De
Ayurveda by the name ‘Mayani’ or ‘Makandi’ Souza and Shah, 1988). The decoction of the
(Shah, 1996). Generally the plant is found in plant is given with honey for the treatment of
agricultural fields, wastelands, dry and barren asthma and leucorrhea. Powdered roots are given
hills. Coleus is a perennial herb with a height up for cardiac complaints, piles and urinary
to 45-60cm. with four angled branched stem complaints.
having hairy nodes. The roots are radially Taxonomic Position
spreading, thick, fibrous and golden brown in The plant belongs to family Lamiaceae and the
colour (Thorne research article 2003). C. genus Coleus. Commonly known as the mint
forskohlii is the only species having fasciculated family, Lamiacese includes a number of potent
roots. The root morphology is quite variable in medicinal plants. It consists of 236 genera and
different populations (Kavitha et al. 2010). In 7000 species, the largest family of the order
Uttarakhand the plant grows in the arid and semi Lamiales. The plants are generally aromatic with
arid areas of Himalayan Region. Locally it is colorful leaves, and have been used since ancient
known as ‘fiwain’. The plant has been used by the times for their pharmaceutical properties (Hirasa
tribal population of this region since old times for and Takemasa 1998, Bais et al., 2002). The genus
the treatments of various treatments like psoriasis, coleus was first described by Loureiro in 1790;
eczema, skin infections, leucorrhea and asthma. In from the greek word ‘COLEOS’ meaning sheath.
general the roots and the leaves of the plant are There 150 species belonging to this genus, having
used. The tuberous roots are found to be rich showy, colorful leaves and been used as
source of the labdane diterpenoid forskolin. ornamentals. The major medicinal species of
However the whole plant has been a rich source Coleus in india are tuberous C. forskohlii, C.
of various phytochemicals as roots also contains scutellaroides, C. malabaricus , C. zeylanicus and
Coleonol and Coleosol whike the leaves contain C.amboinicus, other species are mainly used to
barbatusin, cyclobarbatusin, methylene quinine treat dysentery and digestive disorders (De Souza
and coleon. The diterpenoids are found in almost et al. 1983;Kurian and Sankar 2007). The
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taxonomis position of Coleus forskohlii is as geic and hypotensive. Due to its cAMP
follows: stimulating properties forskolin have been used in
Kingdom - Plantae cosmetic industry to prepare drugs and tonics for
Division - Magnolophyta weight loss and body shape management (Gupta,
2004). HPLC profiling of the plant stem and
Class - Magnoliopsid
leaves have shown the presence of high amount of
Order - Lamiales phenols and some diterpenoids that shows high
Family - Lamiaceae antioxidant activity. It has been suggested that C.
Genus - Coleus forskohlii can be used as source of antioxidants
Species – forskohlii (Rasineni et al., 2008). C. forskohlii can be used
in making perfumes also, many volatile oils with
aromatic properties have also been extracted from
the plant including monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes
and sesquiterepene alocohols. Majeed and
Prakash (2007) identified the presence of 3-
decanone, bornyl acetate and g-eudesmol in their
study.

Fig. A. Flower of C. forskohlii Forskolin

B. Leaves of C. forskohlii Forskolin was found to be the main active
constituent of the roots. It is a labdane diterpenoid
Medicinal Uses of Coleus forskohlii
assumed to be synthesized via non-mevalonate
C. forskohlii is used as a tonic in South India. The
pathway in the root cork cells of the plant. It
roots are also used in treatment of worms. The
reduces blood pressure. Forskolin activates an
root paste allays burning in festering boils. Root
enzyme, adenylate cyclase, which increases cyclic
is ground in mustard oil and the paste is applied
adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels in cells,
on eczema and skin infections. It is also used as
which is the most important cell-regulating
antiaging and antioxidant agent and as a remedy
compound (Lindner et al., 1978; Seamon and
for heart, abdominal and respiratory disorders
Daly, 1981; Dubey et al., 1981). Activation of
(Srivastava et al., 2002). In Uttarakhand it has
cAMP results in inhibition of platelet activation,
been used by the tribal population (Bhotias) in the
increased force of contraction of heart muscle,
treatment of various ailments like psoriasis, skin
relaxation of smooth muscle, increased insulin
infections, wound healing, stomach and other
secretion and increased thyroid function. The
ulcers and cardiac disorders. The diterpenoids are
compound is generally extracted from the root
important constituents among the phytochemicals
tubers of the plant. Kavitha et al.,(2010) observed
that has been isolated from the plant. Forskolin, is
that the 0.5cm thick slices of the root tubers dried
an important labdane diterpenoid that is extracted
at 40 0C when kept in gummy polythene bag yield
from the roots of the plant, found to be cAMP
a high amount of forskolin. The major hurdle
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faced at present is that the level of forskolin is Cultivation in abandoned fields is the best
very low and it seems difficult to produce conservation strategy for this species.
economically. Moreover, the growth rhythm of Conclusion
the plant is comparatively slow and the alkaloid
C. foskohlii is potent medicinal vegetation for
accumulation pattern is influenced by
future as its medicinal properties have been
environmental and/or geographical conditions
investigated recently. The plant is still to be
(Chandel and Sharma 1997).
explored from other regions of India including
north east, Uttarakhand Himalayan. Looking at
the variation pattern in morphology and
phytochemistry of the plant it can be assumed that
many different varieties of the plant with different
and effective properties may be found. In
Uttarakhnd especially the plant needs attention of
th research as it may become new source for
antioxidants and other drugs.
Chemical Structure of forskolin Chandel VKS, Sharma N, Srivastav VK (1991).
Coleus forskohlii in Uttarakhand In-vitro propagation of Coleus forskohlii Briq., a
C. forskohlii is found in the sub tropical climate threatened medicinal plant. Plant Cell Report.
of lower Himalayan region of Uttarakhand. 10:67-70.
Ethnomedicinally C. forskohlii is known with the References
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Jari’. While, it is an imporatnat medicinal and plant. Plant Cell Report. 10:67-70.
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Indian herb. Econ Med Plant Res.
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Gupta, S. (2004): Nutracosmetics: a new growth
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Majeed, M. and Prakash, L. (2007): Fighting acne

and more Effective natural approaches to
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