Posted on 09/12/2025 4:07:43 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Forskolin, a natural compound derived from a plant, could significantly improve treatment outcomes for an aggressive form of leukemia, known as KMT2A-rearranged Acute Myeloid Leukemia (KMT2A-r AML), according to a new study.
The study shows that not only does forskolin directly stop the growth of leukemia cells, but it also enhances the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs. Researchers from Surrey found that forskolin activates Protein Phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and stops the expression of several cancer-promoting genes (MYC, HOXA9 and HOXA10).
The research also shows a significant and unexpected finding, as forskolin was found to substantially increase the sensitivity of KMT2A-r AML cells to daunorubicin, a standard-of-care chemotherapy drug. This effect, however, was not dependent on PP2A activation: forskolin appeared to block P-glycoprotein 1, which allows cancer cells to pump chemotherapy drugs out, leading to drug resistance. By blocking P-glycoprotein 1, forskolin allowed for more daunorubicin to go inside the leukemia cells, making the chemotherapy much more potent.
Dr. Maria Teresa Esposito said, "Our findings have highlighted an exciting dual mechanism of action for forskolin. Not only does it have direct anti-leukemic effects, but it also acts as a powerful enhancer to conventional chemotherapy. Combining forskolin with daunorubicin could lead to a more effective treatment strategy, potentially allowing for lower doses of chemotherapy and reducing the severe side effects often associated with AML treatments."
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Oddly the article mentions a ‘plant’ but doesn’t actually say what plant. A quick search says a source is the ‘blue spur flower.’
The forskolin plant is Coleus forskohlii, an herb native to India and Southeast Asia, belonging to the mint family. Forskolin is a compound found in its roots that has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine and is being studied for potential benefits related to asthma, heart disease, and weight loss, although more research is needed to prove its safety and effectiveness.
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