Forskolin bypasses all cell surface receptors and directly activates adenylyl cyclase, the enzyme that converts ATP to cyclic AMP (cAMP). cAMP is a universal "second messenger" that activates protein kinase A, which then: stimulates lipolysis (fat burning), increases thyroid hormone production, enhances testosterone synthesis in Leydig cells, relaxes smooth muscle (bronchodilation, vasodilation), and reduces intraocular pressure. The problem is this mechanism is extremely broad — increasing cAMP affects virtually every cell type, which is why the interaction profile is extensive.
Independently graded against 173,636 indexed supplements with 177 published clinical interactions, sourced from PubMed, FDA CAERS, openFDA, and NIH DSLD | Last updated:
Not medical advice. Based on published clinical research and systematic reviews.