The isolation, purification and complete characterization of the diterpene forskolin from nutritional supplements

Alexander O Pritchard; Dion B Nemez; David E Herbert; Shyamala Dakshinamurti; John L Sorensen

doi:10.1016/j.bmcl.2021.128119

The isolation, purification and complete characterization of the diterpene forskolin from nutritional supplements

Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2021 Jul 15:44:128119. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2021.128119. Epub 2021 May 19.

Authors

Alexander O Pritchard¹, Dion B Nemez¹, David E Herbert¹, Shyamala Dakshinamurti², John L Sorensen³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada.
² Department of Physiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3P5, Canada.
³ Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada. Electronic address: John_Sorensen@umanitoba.ca.

PMID: 34019977
DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2021.128119

Abstract

Forskolin (1) is a diterpene found in the Coleus forskohlii plant that has been examined for its medical properties resulting from adenylyl cyclase activation. This article describes a straightforward purification method of 1 from commercially available weight loss capsules. In addition, there has been some ambiguity with respect to the use of the name 'forskolin' to describe 1 and related diterpenes, which this report serves to eliminate. Herein we detail the complete spectroscopic characterization of purified 1 as well as its single crystal X-ray structure.

Keywords: Adenylyl cyclase; Coleonol; Coleus forskohlii; Forskolin.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Colforsin / chemistry
Colforsin / isolation & purification*
Dietary Supplements
Diterpenes / chemistry
Diterpenes / isolation & purification*
Molecular Conformation
Plectranthus / chemistry*

Substances

Diterpenes
Colforsin