Coleus forskohlii-Mediated Defense Activation Against Fungal Pathogens

Coleus forskohlii is a perennial medicinal plant valued for its active compound, forskolin, which is extracted from its roots. Forskolin exhibits a range of therapeutic properties, including anticancer effects, weight and fat loss promotion, lean body mass enhancement, and relief from allergies and asthma due to its antihistamine properties. Additionally, it lowers blood pressure, alleviates stomach and menstrual cramps, inhibits platelet aggregation, relaxes vascular smooth muscle, and reduces intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients. Its anti-allergy potential is linked to its ability to inhibit IgE-mediated histamine and peptide leukotriene release from human basophils and mast cells. However, Coleus forskohlii is susceptible to a severe soil-borne disease caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae. Traditionally, it is propagated through vegetative cuttings, a method that is time-consuming and yields a limited number of propagules. In vitro propagation techniques provide an efficient alternative for plant germplasm conservation and large-scale multiplication. Efforts have been made to develop in vitro plants modified through mutation to confer resistance to high concentrations of the fungal toxin, improving their survival and cultivation potential.