Plectranthus barbatus

Plectranthus barbatus, or more commonly known as Coleus forskohlii and Indian Coleus (Kikuyu: Maigoya), is a tropical perennial plant related to the typical coleus species. It is interesting from a scientific and medicinal standpoint because it produces forskolin. In Kenya it is also referred to as Kikuyu toilet paper, as in rural areas its leaves are used as such.

Medicinal Use

In Ayurvedic medicine Coleus species have been used to treat heart disease, convulsions, spasmodic pain and painful urination.^[1] It is widely used as a domestic mild medicine in South America among both urban and rural developments, sometimes confused with the native plant with similar properties but different uses, boldo. The herbal tea of Plectranthus barbatus is composed mainly by rosmarinic acid, but also by flavonoid glucuronides and diterpenoids ^[2][3]. It showed interesting activities in vitro, such as antioxidant activity, acetylcholinesterase inhibition^[4][5] (related with the treatment of Alzheimer's disease)and inhibition of the growth of cariogenic bacteria^[6]. When administered to rats, the components of the herbal tea were found in the plasma and an inhibition of brain acetylcholinesterase was observed, suggesting that the plant extract may be useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease^[7].

Note: Plectranthus forskalaei Vahl is a junior synonym of Plectranthus madagascariensis.

External links

• PLANTS Database image
• Plectranthus barbatus
• Research on suntanning effect of forskolin
• Plectranthus barbatus: A Review of Phytochemistry, Ethnobotanical Uses and Pharmacology - Part 1 https://www.thieme-connect.com/ejournals/html/plantamedica/doi/10.1055/s-0029-1240898
• Plectranthus barbatus: A Review of Phytochemistry, Ethnobotanical Uses and Pharmacology - Part 2 https://www.thieme-connect.com/ejournals/html/plantamedica/doi/10.1055/s-0029-1240919

References

1. ^ Dubey MP, Srimal RC, Nityanand S et al. (1981). "Pharmacological studies on coleonol, a hypotensive diterpene from Coleus forskohlii." J Ethnopharmacol. 3:1-13.
2. ^ Falé, P.L., Borges, C., Madeira, P.J.A., Ascensão, L., et al., Rosmarinic acid, scutellarein 4′-methyl ether 7-O-glucuronide and (16S)-coleon E are the main compounds responsible for the antiacetylcholinesterase and antioxidant activity in herbal tea of Plectranthus barbatus (“falso boldo”). Food Chem. 2009, 114, 798-805.
3. ^ Porfírio S, Falé PL, Madeira PJA, Florêncio MH, Ascensão L, Serralheiro MLM. Antiacetylcholinesterase and antioxidant activities of Plectranthus barbatus tea, after in vitro gastrointestinal metabolism. Food Chem. 2010; 122: 179-87.
4. ^ Falé, P.L., Borges, C., Madeira, P.J.A., Ascensão, L., et al., Rosmarinic acid, scutellarein 4′-methyl ether 7-O-glucuronide and (16S)-coleon E are the main compounds responsible for the antiacetylcholinesterase and antioxidant activity in herbal tea of Plectranthus barbatus (“falso boldo”). Food Chem. 2009, 114, 798-805.
5. ^ Porfírio S, Falé PL, Madeira PJA, Florêncio MH, Ascensão L, Serralheiro MLM. Antiacetylcholinesterase and antioxidant activities of Plectranthus barbatus tea, after in vitro gastrointestinal metabolism. Food Chem. 2010; 122: 179-87.
6. ^ Neusa L. Figueiredo a, Sara Raquel M.M. de Aguiar a, Pedro Luis Falé, Lia Ascensão, Maria Luisa M. Serralheiro, Ana Rosa L. Lino. The inhibitory effect of Plectranthus barbatus and Plectranthus ecklonii leaves on the viability, glucosyltransferase activity and biofilm formation of Streptococcus sobrinus and Streptococcus mutans. Food Chemistry 119 (2010) 664–668.
7. ^ Falé, P.L., Madeira, P.J., Florêncio, M.H., Ascensão, L., Serralheiro, M.L., Function of Plectranthus barbatus herbal tea as neuronal acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Food Funct. 2011, 2, 130-136.