Maintaining or increasing lean body mass should be one of the important considerations of any weight loss strategy for the following reasons: 1. increase in lean body mass is proportionate to an increase in the body’s thermogenic response to food and the basic metabolic rate (BMR); 2. food induced thermogenesis controls body weight by an increase in catabolism of body fat (thermogenesis is preferentially fueled by fatty acids derived from body fat and/or from food); and 3. enhanced thermogenesis contributes to a buildup of lean body mass.
An extract of Coleus forskohlii root, Benth. (Fam. Labiatae) standardized for diterpene forskolin was tested in an open-field study for weight loss and lean body mass increase. The study’s hypothesis was based on the recognized role of diterpene forskolin as the plant derived compound which stimulates enzyme adenylate cyclase and subsequently cyclic AMP (3’5’adenosine monophosphate) (1,2). Cyclic AMP may release fatty acids from the adipose tissue depots which may result in enhanced thermogenesis (3), loss of body fat, and theoretically increased lean body mass.
This preliminary data obtained with 250 mg bid of a 10% extract of Coleus forskohlii indicate that this botanical bears promise as a safe and effective weight loss regimen. The effect of Coleus forskohlii is particularly valid in the absence of change in frequency and intensity of physical exercise and without diet restrictions during the course of the trial. This study warrants a double-blind clinical trial evaluating effects of forskolin on body composition and its possible thermogenic mechanism.
Diterpene Forskolin (Coleus forskohlii, Benth.): A possible new compound for reduction of body weight by increasing lean body mass, Vladimir Badmaev, Muhammed Majeed, Anthony A. Conte, John E. Parker, Nutracos 2002

Objective: We assessed lowering of Intraocular Pressure (IOP) using a herbal formulation, Forskolin eye drops 1% w/v aqueous solution, in the treatment of open angle glaucoma.
Methods: A double blind, randomized, controlled, multi centred trial was chosen as study design to assess the decrease in intraocular pressure with Forskolin 1% w/v aqueous solution eye drops. Ninety patients of either sex, above 18 years of age, suffering from open angle glaucoma with an intra ocular pressure of more than 24 mm/Hg were enrolled in the study. Tonometric readings with no instillation were recorded on baseline visit; the patients were given medication enough to last for the entire study duration and were advised to instill 2 drops thrice a day. The patients were then called for visit 2, i.e. end of 1st week, visit 3-2nd week, visit 4-3rd week, and visit 5-4th week.
Conclusions: The trend towards a decrease in intraocular pressure was higher in the forskolin group for both the eyes as compared to the Timolol group and a reached statistical significance (p max 0.05). Forskolin 1% w/v aqueous solution was found to be effective and safe in the treatment of open angle glaucoma. Results indicated Forskolin 1% w/v aqueous solution to be more effective than 0.5% Timolol eye drops and thus can be a good alternative treatment of choice in patients with open angle glaucoma.
Discussion : The results obtained in our trial demonstrate the efficacy of 1% w/v Forskolin (2 drops thrice a day) aqueous solution in achieving fast onset of action and uniformity of hypotensive activity. Forskolin 1% w/v aqueous solution eye drops were significantly (p max 0.05) effective in lowering the elevated intra ocular pressure in patients with mild open angle glaucoma. It could be an excellent and safe alternative to currently used treatments especially considering its natural origin. The current study on Forskolin 1% aqueous solution eye drops, a formulation developed by Sami Labs Limited, India, confirms the efficacy of the product over a large sample size when compared to Timolol, the widely opted treatment for reduction of IOP in mild open angle glaucoma. Therefore, Forskolin 1% w/v aqueous solution could be recommended as a treatment of choice to Timolol.
Keywords: IOP – Intra Ocular Pressure, Timolol, Open angle glaucoma, hypotensive, circadian tonometric pressure.
A Double-blind, Randomized Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Forskolin Eye Drops 1% in the Treatment of Open Angle Glaucoma – A Comparative Study Muhammed Majeed, Kalyanam Nagabhushanam, Sankaran Natarajan, Priti Vaidyanathan and Suresh Kumar Karri, - Majeed et al., J Clin Trials 2014, Volume 4, Issue 5

Several innovative natural ingredients that support weight management have been discovered and developed by Sabinsa Corporation, a verticallyintegrated company. Based on their mechanisms of action, these ingredients may be divided into four groups:
- Group A: Citrin and GarCitrin
Citrin® contains only one of the bioactive ingredients of the Garcinia cambogia fruit, namely, Hydroxycitric acid (HCA). HCA is a derivative of citric acid, the agent that gives citrus fruits (oranges, lemons) their characteristic tart flavor. Citrin is standardized for a minimum of 50% HCA (1-3). Badmaev and Majeed (4) have conducted a clinical study on Citrin®. As far as inhibition of fatty acid synthesis is concerned, Hydroxycitric Acid has 100 times greater affinity for the enzyme citrate lyase, and, therefore, it acts as a potent inhibitor of citrate lyase.
Citrin® also affects appetite.
- Group B: ForsLean®
ForsLean® is an extract obtained from the dried roots of the plant Coleus forskohlii. Interestingly, Coleus forskohlii roots also have a history of food use in India (as pickle or condiment). Coleus forskohlii has been studied extensively. The most recent review is a book chapter titled “Coleus forskohlii Extract in the Management of Obesity” written by Dr. Majeed. The bioactive ingredient of ForsLean® is Forskolin, a Labdane di-terpenoid. In the
8-week, pilot open field study, 6 overweight women received 500 mg ForsLean (or 50 mg Forskolin) per day. As it can be seen, after 8 weeks, there was a considerable weight loss and fat loss, and increase in lean body mass.In this 12-week, double-blind and randomized study, 60 obese subjects received 500 mg ForsLean® (50 mg Forskolin) per day.
- Group C: LeanGard
LeanGard® is a proprietary blend of GarCitrin®, ForsLean® and BioPerine® with the suggested use level of 500 mg two times per day. LeanGard® caused 7.5% reduction in the body weight of the test group compared to 1.1% in the placebo group (50 over-weight subjects in each group comprising of 24 men and 26 women ranging in age from 25 to 55 years; – Study Duration: 12 weeks; – Dosage: 500 mg of the LeanGard® or Placebo, twice a day). LeanGard® caused 4.36% increase in the lean body mass of the test group compared to 0.67% in the placebo group. Furthermore, LeanGard® did not cause any significant changes in blood pressure or heart rate, hematological parameters, liver function, renal function, thyroid function, and plasma lipid levels.
– Group D: Fabenol
Fabenol® is an alpha-amylase inhibitory natural extract obtained from Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean, kidney bean) that blocks the digestion of dietary starch. An amylase inhibitor obstructs the digestion of starch and absorption of glucose. Therefore amylase inhibitors are valued in conditions such as diabetes (to reduce blood sugar levels) and in weight management. Since the alpha-amylase inhibitor protein binds with the active sites of alpha-amylase and prevents its starch degradation activity, it is also called “Starch Blocker”.
Innovative ingredients in support of weight management, NutraCos, nov - Dec 2012, Health ingredient, Muhammed Majeed, Reza Kamarei

Plectranthus is a large and widespread genus with a diversity of ethnobotanical uses. The genus is plagued with numerous nomenclatural disharmonies that make it difficult to collate accurate data on the uses. The aim of this review is to gather together all ethnobotanical information on Plectranthus and to map the data onto the most up-to-date phylogenetic classification in order to see if there are similar uses among related species and hence provide a framework for the prediction and exploration of new uses of species.
The uses of 62 species of Plectranthus were mapped onto a current phylogeny based on DNA sequence data. The phylogeny reveals two major Clades, 1 and 2. The members of Clade 1 (corresponding to the formally recognized genus Coleus) were richer in number and diversity of uses than members of Clade 2 (comprising the remaining species of Plectranthus). The high incidence of synonymy can lead to problems in uncovering a species’ ethnobotanical profile. About 30% of all citations of Plectranthus use a synonym and most of the synonyms are attributed to 10 of the most used species, 9 of which are in Clade 1.
Members of the ‘Coleus’ Clade are the most studied group both taxonomically and economically. The higher incidence of study may be as a result of the higher diversity of uses and the fact that species in Clade 1, such as Plectranthus barbatus, Plectranthus amboinicus and Plectranthus mollis, are geographically more widespread than those in Clade 2.
Plectranthus species in Clade 1 are frequently used as medicines and are used to treat a range of ailments, particularly digestive, skin, infective and respiratory problems. Plectranthus used as foods, flavours, fodder and materials are also mostly found in Clade 1.
Monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, diterpenoids and phenolics have been reported in species of Plectranthus. The abietane diterpenoids are the most diverse of the diterpenoids isolated from species of Plectranthus. The labdane diterpenoid, forskolin, occurs in Plectranthus barbatus and could explain some of the traditional uses of this species. This review highlights the fact that not enough is known about the chemistry of other species of Plectranthus to explain their traditional uses.
Plectranthus: A review of ethnobotanical uses - Catherine W. Lukhoba, Monique S.J. Simmonds, Alan J. Paton - Journal of Ethnopharmacology 103 (2006) 1–24

Anstract : A clinical study performed in 198713 established that regional fat loss from the thigh in obese women could be effected through adrenergic modulation. In this study, twenty eight obese women were placed on a calorie-restricted diet and subjected to one of five topical treatments to one thigh three to five times per week for four weeks: (1) isoproterenol injections; (2) cream containing forskolin, aminophylline, and yohimbine; (3) yohimbine cream; (4) forskolin cream; or (5) aminophylline cream. The opposite thigh was treated with a placebo (injection or cream), serving as the control. The treated thighs lost significantly more girth after treatment (both by injection and by cream). Additionally, no adverse reactions were observed that could be attributed to either the cream or the injections. The authors of this study concluded that local fat reduction from the thigh could be safely accomplished, using agents that affect the adrenergic mechanisms.
Introduction : Fat is lost more rapidly from the abdomen than from the thigh after intestinal bypass surgery. I Studies of fat cells have shown that beta-adrenergic agonists can directly increase cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels and stimulate lipolysis. There is a regional difference in this responsiveness to beta-agonists. Fat cells from the abdomen are more sensitive to the lipolytic effects of beta-adrenergic stimulation than are those from the thigh. This appears to be because there are more alpha2-receptors on fat cells of the thigh than of the abdomen. Raising the norepinephrine concentration in the medium suspending the fat cells from the thigh increases in vitro lipolysis from these cells. The maximal lipolytic rate in fat cells from the two locations is equal, but higher concentrations of norepinephrine are needed to reach that maximum when fat cells from the thigh are used. Blocking the alpha2-receptors on fat cells from the thigh enhances lipolysis in the presence of norepinephrine.
Regional Fat Loss from the Thigh in Obese Women after Adrenergic Modulation, Frank L. Greenway, M.D., George A. Bray, M.D.