A plant of the mint family from India; its root contains forskolin.
Why it’s used: Traditionally used in Ayurveda; studied for its role in body composition alongside exercise.
Coleus forskohlii, now also classified as Plectranthus barbatus, is a perennial plant of the mint family native to India, Nepal and Thailand. It is grown for its tuberous roots, which contain forskolin, a compound that has been widely studied in the laboratory for its effects on a cell-signalling messenger called cyclic AMP.
The root has been traditionally used in Ayurveda, and in parts of India it is also eaten as a pickle. Modern interest centres on body composition alongside exercise. The human evidence is small and mixed: a 2005 trial in 30 overweight men reported lower body fat compared with placebo over 12 weeks, while a similar trial in overweight women the same year found no significant change in fat mass.
On labels you will see Coleus forskohlii root extract, usually standardised to 10% or 20% forskolin. Mouse studies have found that whole root extracts can affect liver enzymes and liver fat, and researchers linked this to compounds other than forskolin itself. How this applies to people at supplement amounts is not known.
3 findings behind this ingredient. Hover a card for the detail and the source.
In a double-blind, quasi-randomised trial, 60 overweight adults took a Coleus forskohlii extract (Forcslim) or placebo. Weight fell by 1.93 kg and waist by 1.83 cm versus placebo, with no safety concerns.
30 overweight or obese men took 250 mg of a 10% forskolin extract or placebo twice daily for 12 weeks. Body fat and fat mass fell, measured by DXA.
30 overweight or obese adults took 250 mg Coleus forskohlii extract or placebo twice daily for 12 weeks with a reduced-calorie diet. Insulin and insulin resistance improved versus placebo.
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Coleus forskohlii is the plant, and forskolin is one compound found in its root. Most supplements are root extracts standardised to a percentage of forskolin, often 10% or 20%. The rest of the extract contains other plant compounds, which is why extracts and pure forskolin can behave differently.
The evidence is limited and mixed. A 12-week trial in 30 overweight men reported lower body fat compared with placebo, but a similar trial in overweight women found no significant change in fat mass. It has been studied alongside exercise rather than as a stand-alone approach.
There is no clear human evidence of liver harm at supplement amounts, but mouse studies found that whole Coleus forskohlii extracts raised liver enzymes and caused fatty liver at higher intakes. People with liver conditions, or taking medicines processed by the liver, should speak to their GP first.
Information only, not medical advice. If you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, speak to your GP or pharmacist first.
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