The potent herbal extracts in Passion Rx include Ashwagandha, Aspallum purificata, Catuaba, Cnidium, Coleus forskohlii, Damiana herb, DMAE nootropic nutrient, Jujube extract, Horny goat weed extract, Maca, Mucuna pruriens, Muira puama, Passion flower, Pfaffia paniculata, Rehmannia, Rhodiola, Tribulus, and tongkat ali. There is also a version of Passion Rx with yohimbe.

Coleus forskohlii research - use for weight loss
Pharmacognosy Res. January 2014. Effect of Coleus forskohlii extract on cafeteria diet-induced obesity in rats. This study was designed to determine the effect of Coleus forskohlii on obesity and associated metabolic changes in rats fed with cafeteria diet.OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to evaluate antiobesogenic and metabolic benefits of C. forskohlii in cafeteria diet induced obesity rat model. Rats were divided into five groups of six animals in each group and as follows:  Normal pellet diet group; cafeteria diet group; cafeteria diet followed by 50 mg/kg/d Coleus forskohlii extract (CFE), 100 mg/kg/d CFE and 45 mg/kg/d orlistat groups, respectively. Indicators of obesity such as food intake, body weight and alteration in serum lipid profiles were studied. Feeding of cafeteria diet induced obesity in rats. Administration of CFE significantly halted increase in food intake and weight gain associated with cafeteria diet. Development of dyslipidemia was also significantly inhibited. The observed effects validate that supplementation of CFE with cafeteria diet could curb the appetite and mitigate the development of dyslipidemia.

Effects of Coleus forskohlii on Fat Storage in Ovariectomized Rats.
Yakugaku Zasshi. 2005.
The antiobesity effects of Coleus forskohlii were investigated in ovariectomized (ovx) rats. Eight-week-old female Wistar rats were assigned to four groups: a sham-operated group fed the control diet (MF, sham-m) ; an ovx-m group fed the control diet; a sham-operated group fed the control diet containing 50 g/kg of Coleus forskohlii extract (sham-c) ; and an ovx-c group fed the control diet containing 50 g/kg of Coleus forskohlii extract. The body weight, adipose tissues, and cell diameter were investigated in ovx rats after Coleus forskohlii extract treatment. Administration of Coleus forskohlii extracts reduced body weight, food intake, and fat accumulation in ovx rats.

Induction of Drug Metabolism by Forskolin, the Role of The Pregnane X Receptor and the PKA Signal Transduction Pathway.
J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2004. University of Kansas.
Forskolin is a widely used biochemical tool that activates adenyl cyclase, thereby increasing intracellular concentration of cAMP, and thus activating the PKA signal transduction pathway. Forskolin induces CYP3A gene expression in primary hepatocytes by functioning as agonists of the pregnane X receptor.

Some marketers are promoting the extract forskolin from coleus forskohlii as a way to maintain lean body mass. They call this extract Forslean. A study published in the December 2005 Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition entitled "Effects of Coleus forskohlii extract supplementation on body composition and markers of health in sedentary overweight females" says that ForsLean, Sabinsa Corporation's patented Coleus forskohlii extract, promotes favorable changes in body composition. The 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 23 overweight women conducted by researchers in the Exercise & Sport Nutrition Lab at the Center for Exercise, Nutrition & Preventive Health Research at Baylor University revealed that individuals receiving ForsLean coleus forskohlii extract showed decreases in body mass and reported less fatigue and hunger. Additionally, no clinically significant interactions were seen in metabolic markers, blood lipids, muscle and liver enzymes, electrolytes, red cells, white cells, hormones (insulin, TSH, T3, T4), heart rate or blood pressure. Study participants were given either 250 mg of ForsLean (standardized to 10 percent diterpene forskolin) or a placebo twice daily for 12 weeks. ForsLean is an extract derived from Coleus forskohlii roots, and the only known plant source of forskolin, a natural compound that has been shown to increase lean body mass and help optimize body composition through cAMP activation.

Coleus forskohlii extract for asthma
Relaxant effects of forskolin on guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle.
Lung. 1987.
We investigated the relaxant effects of forskolin, a diterpene derivative isolated from the roots of Coleus forskohlii, on guinea pig airway smooth muscle. Forskolin caused dose-dependent relaxant effects on resting tone and on leukotriene C4, leukotriene D4, and carbachol-induced contraction of tracheal smooth muscle. Moreover, with propranolol pretreatment the relaxant effect of forskolin on tracheal smooth muscle did not change, whereas with the same pretreatment the relaxant effect of isoproterenol diminished. These results suggest that forskolin relaxes airway smooth muscle in guinea pigs in vitro and in vivo by raising tissue cyclic AMP levels and that its actions are independent of beta-adrenoceptors.

Bladder
Q. My local newspaper had a about the research on coleus forskohlii and chronic bladder infections. I recently ordered a bottle and am taking it along with Macrobid one time a day as a preventative. I have a fifty year history of UTIs and am always on antibiotics.
   A. Yes, we saw this article but since no human studies are yet available, we don't know if coleus forskohlii supplement will work in humans, and if it does what the ideal dosage would be and how often it should be taken.

Blood pressure, hypertension
Does coleus forskohlii reduce blood pressure?
   We have not seen any definitive human research evaluating its role in hypertension in humans but it appears that coleonol, a substance found in this herb, can reduce blood pressure in rodents.

Glaucoma
Q. Does coleus forskolii work for decreasing ocular pressure? Is the coleus forskolii in Passion Rx the same amount as it is in the product that just contains the herb bi tiself? The person who is wanting to find an alternative to prescription eye drops is experiencing problems that the passion Rx works well for; this person thought it had to do with side effects of the prescription eye drops as low libido and fatigue are common side effects. Do you know of research for lowered ocular pressure and use of coleus forskolii? I have only seen it for losing weight and for healthy subjects (not those with glaucoma) related to ocular pressure.
   A. We have not seen any clinical studies regarding the use of a coleus forskohlii supplement and ocular pressure measurements. The amount of coleus forskohlii in Passion Rx is much much less than in a capsule of a pure coleus forskohlii product.

HIV benefit
Anti-HIV diterpenes from Coleus forskohlii.
Nat Prod Commun. 2009. Department of Natural Products, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER). Nagar, Punjab, India.
Various extracts of the aerial parts of Coleus forskohlii were prepared and evaluated at their non cytotoxic concentration against HIV-1 NL4-3. Chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts showed inhibition of HIV, respectively in CEM-GFP cells infected with HIV-1(NL4-3). Four diterpenes, 1-deoxyforskolin, 1,9-dideoxyforskolin, forskolin and isoforskolin were isolated from the chloroform extract and tested against the virus. Six semi-synthetic derivatives of forskolin have been prepared to study SAR. 1-Deoxyforskolin and forskolin were found to be active against HIV(NL4-3). This is first report of anti HIV activity of this plant and its isolated constituents.