Forskolin

Biological Activity

Forskolin (also called Coleonol) is a naturally occurring diterpene that is produced by the Indian Coleus plant (C. forskohlii). Forskolin is commonly used to raise levels of cAMP in a wide variety of intact cells and tissue preparations. Forskolin binds to adenylyl cyclase in membranes from stably transfected Sf9 cells expressing type 1 adenylyl cyclase with an IC50 value of 41 nM and demonstrates an EC50 value of 0.5 μM in an activation assay assessing formation of cAMP from ATP. Forskolin can activate or upregulate the proliferation of Schwann cells in culture, together with Fibroblast growth factor or Transforming Growth Factor-Beta. Forskolin also interacts with glucose transporters and certain ion channels and has been used for examining adenylyl cyclase expression, regulation, and G protein signaling.

Product Citations

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  Biochem Pharmacol. 2025 Aug 09; .

  Targeting TRAF6 inhibits cystogenesis in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease
  Forskolin purchased from AbMole

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  Patent. CN119639678A 2025 Mar 18.

  Patent. CN119639678A
  Forskolin purchased from AbMole

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  Cancer Lett. 2024 Oct 02;605:217284.

  Exploring epigenetic dynamics unveils a super-enhancer-mediated NDRG1-β-catenin axis in modulating gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer
  Forskolin purchased from AbMole

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  Biochem Pharmacol . 2023 Jan;207:115355.

  Inhibition of deubiquitinase USP28 attenuates cyst growth in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease
  Forskolin purchased from AbMole

• 

  Patent. CN116987669A 2023 Nov 03.

  Patent. CN116987669A
  Forskolin purchased from AbMole

• 

  Biochem Pharmacol. 2022 Nov 25;115355.

  Inhibition of deubiquitinase USP28 attenuates cyst growth in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease
  Forskolin purchased from AbMole

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  Acta Histochem. 2022 Aug;124(6):151931.

  Fibroblast-derived exosomal miRNA-133 promotes cardiomyocyte-like differentiation
  Forskolin purchased from AbMole

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  Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2020 Apr 30;525(2):326-333.

  Spexin as an Anxiety Regulator in Mouse Hippocampus: Mechanisms for Transcriptional Regulation of Spexin Gene Expression by Corticotropin Releasing Factor
  Forskolin purchased from AbMole

Protocol (for reference only)

Cell Experiment
Cell lines	HEK293 cells
Preparation method	To study the roles of cAMP-dependent cascade coupled with CRFR2 in CRF-inhibited SPX promoter activity, HEK293 cells with CRFR2 over-expression were treated with increasing concentrations of the membrane permeable cAMP analog 8cpt-cAMP (0.1–100 μM), adenylate cycles (AC) activator Forskolin (10–1000 nM) or PKA activator 6Bnz-cAMP (0.1–100 μM) for 12 h, respectively.
Concentrations	10–1000 nM
Incubation time	12 h

Animal Experiment
Animal models	Male C57BL/6 mice
Formulation	5% DMSO
Dosages	4mg/kg
Administration	Intraperitoneal injection

Chemical Information

Molecular Weight	410.51
Formula	C22H34O7
CAS Number	66575-29-9
Solubility (25°C)	DMSO 50 mg/mL Ethanol 20 mg/mL
Storage	2-8°C, protect from light

References

[1] Godard MP, et al. Obes Res. Body composition and hormonal adaptations associated with forskolin consumption in overweight and obese men.

[2] Kim SS, et al. Neuroreport. cAMP induces neuronal differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells via activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase/MAPK.

[3] Insel PA, et al. Cell Mol Neurobiol. Forskolin as a tool for examining adenylyl cyclase expression, regulation, and G protein signaling.