C
COLEUS (Plectranthus barbatus Andrews) ++Synonyms — Coleus barbatus (Andrews) Benth., Coleus forskohlii auct., P. forskohlii auct.
Activities (Coleus) — Adrenergic (1; KEB); Antiaggregant (1; APA; KEB); Anticancer (f; APA);
Antidepressant (f; APA); Antidiuretic (1; APA); Antiglaucomic (1; KEB); Antimetastatic (f; APA;
KEB); Antispasmodic (1; APA); Bronchodilator (1; APA; KEB); Bronchospasmolytic (1; KEB);
cAMP-genic (1; APA; KEB); Cardiotonic (1; APA; KEB); CNS-Depressant (1; APA); Gastrostim-
ulant (1; APA); Gluconeogenic (1; KEB); Glycogenolytic (1; KEB); Hypotensive (1; APA; KEB;
SKJ); Immunosuppressant (1; APA); Lipolytic (1; KEB); Myorelaxant (1; APA); Neurogenic (1;
APA); Pancreatostimulant (1; KEB); Positive Inotropic (1; KEB); Secretagogue (1; APA; KEB);
Sialagogue (1; KEB); Thyrotropic (1; AKT; KEB); Vasodilator (1; KEB).
Indications (Coleus) — Asthma (1; APA; KEB); Cancer (f; APA); Cardiopathy (1; APA; KEB);
Congestive Heart Failure (1; APA); Convulsion (f; APA); Cramp (1; APA); Depression (f; APA);
Dermatosis (f; APA); Dyspepsia (f; KEB); Dysuria (f; APA); Eczema (f; APA); Glaucoma (1; APA;
KEB); High Blood Pressure (1; APA; KEB; SKJ); Hypothyroidism (f; APA; KEB); Infertility (f;
KEB); Insomnia (f; APA); Ischemia (1; KEB); Myocardosis (1; KEB); Obesity (1; KEB); Psoriasis
(f; APA; KEB); Respirosis (f; APA); Thrombosis (1; KEB); Water Retention (1; APA).
Dosages (Coleus) — 50 mg StX (18% forskolin = 9 mg forskolin) 2–3 ×/day (APA); 6–12 g/day
dry root or 6–12 ml fluid extract (1:1) (KEB).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Coleus) — Not covered (AHP; KOM; PHR).
I think of this as a food farmaceutical containing a powerful drug with many activities. But as
Albert Leung so often and skillfully reminds us, the plant does not necessarily share the activities
of its best known chemical constituent (present in tubers at levels ca. 0.45%). Contraindicated in
hypotension. Forskolin may potentiate other drugs. Forskolin acts synergistically with calcitonin
in inhibiting osteoclastic activity. Acts synergistically with hawthorn, which probably inhibits
phosphodiesterase, which breaks down cAMP. Combining coleus and hawthorn should raise cAMP
levels by stimulating production and inhibiting decomposition of cAMP. Responses to forskolin
are reduced in muscle cells of failing hearts, but since forskolin also raises cAMP, it renders the
coleus possibly useful even here.COLOCYNTH, BITTER APPLE, WILD GOURD
(Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad.) XSynonyms — Colocynthis vulgaris Schrad., Cucumis colocynthis L.
Activities (Colocynth) — Abortifacient (f; CRC; WBB); Acaricide (1; BIB); Alterative (f; KAP;
MPI); Anthelminthic (f; WO2); Antiaggregant (1; WO2); Antibacterial (1; WO2); Anticholinergic
(1; MPI; WO2); Antihistaminic (1; KAB; MPI; WO2); Antipyretic (f; BIB; CRC; KAB); Bitter (1;
KAB); Cardiodepressant (1 WO2); Carminative (f; CRC; KAB; WO2); Depurative (f; WO2);
Diuretic (1; KAP; MPI; WO2); Ecbolic (f; BIB; CRC); Emetic (1; MPI); Emmenagogue (f; CRC;
WBB); Expectorant (1; MPI; WO2); Hepatoprotective (1; WO2); Herbicide (1; WO2); Hydragogue
(f; CRC); Hypoglycemic (1; WO2); Insecticide (1; BIB; KAP; WBB; WO2); Irritant (1; PH2);
Laxative (1; CRC; MPI; PHR; PH2; WBB); Mucoirritant (1; PHR); Negative Chronotropic (1;
MPI); Negative Inotropic (1; MPI); Nematicide (1; WO2); Poison (1; PHR); Protisticide (1; WO2);
Repellant (f; CRC); Uterorelaxant (1; WO2); Vermifuge (1; BIB; CRC).
Indications (Colocynth) — Adenopathy (f; CRC; JLH); Alopecia (f; WBB); Amenorrhea (f; BIB;
CRC); Anemia (f; CRC; KAB); Arthrosis (f; CRC); Ascites (f; CRC; KAP; PH2; WBB); Asthma
(f; CRC; KAB); Bacteria (1; WO2); Biliousness (f; BIB; CRC; KAP); Bite (f; KAP; WBB); Blood
(f; WO2); Breast (f; CRC); Bronchosis (f; CRC; KAB); Cancer (f; CRC; KAB); Cancer, abdomen