Forskolin comes from the roots of the Coleus forskohlii plant, long used in Ayurvedic practice. It activates an enzyme that raises cellular cAMP levels, a messenger that affects many body processes.
People take it for weight management and metabolic support. Some work has looked at its effects on heart muscle contraction and blood vessel relaxation, but the science is mixed and not strong enough to back clear benefits for most uses.
Standardized extract doses (10% forskolin) run from 50 to 500 mg taken once or twice daily. Forskolin dissolves in fat, so take it with a meal that contains fat for better absorption.