A tool for increasing cAMP formation
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Forskolin

Item No. 11018

Product Insert (PDF)Safety Data Sheet (SDS) (PDF)
Technical Information
Formal Name
5-(acetyloxy)-3-ethenyldodecahydro-6,10,10b-trihydroxy-3,4a,7,7,10a-pentamethyl-(3R,4aR,5S,6S,6aS,10S,10aR,10bS)-1H-naphtho[2,1-b]pyran-1-one
CAS Number
66575-29-9
Synonyms
  • Coleonol
  • HL 362
  • L 75-1362B
  • NSC 357088
  • NSC 375489
Molecular Formula
C22H34O7
Formula Weight
410.5
Purity
≥98%
Formulation
A crystalline solid
Solubility(Learn about Variance in Solubility)
DMF: 30 mg/mlDMSO: 30 mg/mlDMSO:PBS (pH 7.2) (1:10): 0.1 mg/mlEthanol: 15 mg/ml
SMILES
C[C@@](C1)(C=C)O[C@]2(C)[C@@H](OC(C)=O)[C@@H](O)[C@@]3([H])C(C)(C)CC[C@H](O)[C@]3(C)[C@@]2(O)C1=O
InChi Code
InChI=1S/C22H34O7/c1-8-19(5)11-14(25)22(27)20(6)13(24)9-10-18(3,4)16(20)15(26)17(28-12(2)23)21(22,7)29-19/h8,13,15-17,24,26-27H,1,9-11H2,2-7H3/t13-,15-,16-,17-,19-,20-,21+,22-/m0/s1
InChi Key
OHCQJHSOBUTRHG-KGGHGJDLSA-N
Shipping & Storage Information
Storage
-20°C
Shipping
Room temperature in continental US; may vary elsewhere
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    5 mg

    $65

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    10 mg

    $98

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    50 mg

    $163

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    Product Description

    Forskolin is a naturally occurring diterpene that is produced by the Indian Coleus plant (C. forskohlii).1 It directly activates adenylyl cyclase through its catalytic subunit and is commonly used to raise levels of cAMP in a wide variety of intact cells and tissue preparations.2 Forskolin binds to adenylyl cyclase in membranes from stably transfected Sf9 cells expressing type 1 adenylyl cyclase with an IC50 value of 41 nM and demonstrates an EC50 value of 0.5 μM in an activation assay assessing formation of cAMP from ATP.1 Forskolin also interacts with glucose transporters and certain ion channels and has been used for examining adenylyl cyclase expression, regulation, and G protein signaling.2 This product is also available as part of Cayman's Astrocyte Reprogramming Reagent Kit (DFICBY) (Item No. 502887) and Hepatocyte Maintenance Reagent Kit (Item No. 44676).

    WARNING This product is not for human or veterinary use.

    References & Product Citations
    Product Description References

    1. Robbins, J.D., Boring, D.L., Tang, W.J., et al. Forskolin carbamates: Binding and activation studies with type I adenylyl cyclase. J. Med. Chem. 39(14), 2745-2752 (1996).

    2. Insel, P.A., and Ostrom, R.S. Forskolin as a tool for examining adenylyl cyclase expression, regulation, and G protein signaling. Cell Mol. Neurobiol. 23(3), 305-314 (2003).

    Product Citations

    Robinson, M.J., Chen, L., Thakur, A., et al. Coordinated subpocket engagement underlies nitazene potency at the μ‑opioid receptor. ACS Chem. Neurosci. (2026).

    Patel, M., Ganeshan, D., Horgan, I., et al. AB-MDMSBA—not a synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist. Pharmacol. Res. Perspect. 14:e70278 (2026).

    Campbell, J.A., Do, P., Li, Z., et al. Synthesis and biological studies of 2-aminothiophene derivatives as positive allosteric modulators of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 111, 117864 (2024).

    Tsai, M.-H.M., Chen, L., Baumann, M.H., et al. In Vitro Functional Profiling of Fentanyl and Nitazene Analogs at the μ-Opioid Receptor Reveals High Efficacy for Gi Protein Signaling. ACS Chem. Neurosci. 15(4), 854-867 (2024).

    Sahoo, N., Gu, M., Zhang, X., et al. Gastric acid secretion from parietal cells is mediated by a Ca2+ efflux channel in the tubulovesicle. Dev. Cell 41(3), 262-273 (2017).

    Ribeiro, R., Wen, J., Li, S., et al. Involvement of ERK1/2, cPLA2 and NF-κB in microglia suppression by cannabinoid receptor agonists and antagonists. Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat. 100-101, (2013).