Forskolin is a diterpene derived from the root of Coleus forskohlii. It has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine to treat a variety of conditions including heart disease, respiratory disorders, and hypothyroidism. However, studies are quite limited and only a few actually use forskolin as an oral supplement.

Laboratory studies suggest it has inotropic ⁽⁷⁾ and antiplatelet properties ⁽⁹⁾. In animal models, forskolin promoted activation of adenylate cyclase and increased intracellular concentrations of cyclic adenosine monophosphate ⁽¹⁾. Treatment of uropathogenic E.coli-infected mice with forskolin reduced bacteria ⁽¹¹⁾.

Small clinical studies suggest that forskolin may help weight management ⁽²⁾ or reduce asthma attacks ⁽⁴⁾. When administered intravenously or inhaled, forskolin had a bronchodilation effect ^(5) (6). Preliminary findings also suggest intraoperative infusion of forskolin may benefit cardiovascular health due to anti-inflammatory effects ⁽⁸⁾ or that intraarterial forskolin daropate may improve cerebral vasospasm in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage ⁽¹⁰⁾.

Forskolin and its derivatives showed anticancer effects ^{(1) (23) (12)}. When applied on the skin of mice, forskolin stimulated production of melanin in the absence of ultraviolet light ⁽¹²⁾. It has been proposed for use in sunless tanning lotions to reduce skin cancer risk by decreasing sun exposure. A forskolin extract reduced viral production in human lymphoid CEM-GFP cells infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1NL4) ⁽¹⁴⁾. However, these effects have yet to be confirmed in clinical studies.