Banaba leaf

CortiSlim and Cortisyn ingredients include banaba.

• Banaba may balance blood sugar
• Banaba may promote healthy insulin levels
• Banaba may xontrol appetite and food craving (especially carbohydrate cravings)
• Banaba may promote weight loss

Banaba is a medicinal plant that grows in India, Southeast Asia and the Philippines. Traditional uses include brewing tea from the leaves as a treatment for diabetes and hyperglycemia (elevated blood sugar). The hypoglycemic (blood sugar lowering) effect of banaba leaf extract is similar to that of insulin – which induces glucose transport from the blood into body cells.

 The purple-flowered tree grows in tropical parts of the Americas, India and the Philippines, where it's used in traditional medicine to treat diabetes. The tree's glossy leaves contain high levels of colosolic acid, a plant chemical that reputedly lowers blood sugar levels.

At suggested doses, 8-48mg per day, no adverse side effects are expected from banaba extract. Higher doses should be avoided, however, to prevent possible hypoglycemic effects (headache, dizziness, fatigue) commonly associated with extremely low blood glucose levels.

Uses: In some Asian medicinal traditions, banaba leaf tea is used to soothe upset stomachs and manage diabetes. Commercial extracts are also sometimes used for weight loss and to boost energy.

Banaba leaf extract is most often found in weight-loss supplements such as CortiSlim and Cortisyn. Doses vary depending on the product, but are usually from several milligrams to a few dozen per day. Though harder to find, banaba leaf is sold on its own as a liquid extract and in pill form.

People with low blood sugar or who are prone to hypoglycemia should avoid banaba-containing supplements. High doses can cause symptoms associated with hypoglycemia, such as headaches and light-headedness.

Banaba leaf extract has been most extensively studied in Japan, where animal and test tube studies suggest it acts similarly to insulin. In obese and diabetic mice, banaba leaf slowed weight gain and helped control blood glucose levels, leading some scientists to believe it could help prevent hyperglycemia and obesity in people with Type 2 diabetes (also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes). Ongoing research is attempting to determine which components of the leaves are responsible for the insulin-like behavior and whether banaba does for humans what it does for mice.

Banaba leaf extract

Banaba

Banaba is the common name for Lagerstroemia speciosa, a traditional herbal medicine used among diabetics in the Philippines.1 Research done on banaba extract has demonstrated it has an “insulin-like principle” as well as an ability to reduce blood sugar. At least one component of this insulin-like principle is thought to be corosolic acid, although banaba also contains other like candidates including ellagitannins, lagerstroemin, flosin B and reginin A. As a matter of fact, a recent study identified ellagitannins from banaba as activators of glucose transport.2

One of the banaba studies was conducted on hereditary diabetic mice.3 The results showed blood sugar increases were suppressed, and the level of serum insulin and the amount of urinary excreted glucose were also lowered in mice fed banaba extract. The researchers suggested banaba extract has beneficial effects on control of blood levels of glucose in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

Human studies have been promising as well. Twelve diabetic subjects taking 48 mg of banaba extract (as GlucoTrim®, from OptiPure/Soft Gel Technologies) were tested in a randomized, double blind, crossover study.4 This study confirmed banaba extract promotes normal blood glucose metabolism in people with Type II diabetes, and also showed banaba extract’s benefits were sustained for several weeks even after discontinuation of the supplement. Another crossover, placebo-controlled clinical study with 24 subjects found similar results.5 Specifically, banaba extract was effective in reducing blood glucose levels even in short-term (four weeks) treatment, with no signs of adverse effects. Furthermore, even a one-time dose left a memory-effect for blood glucose control. Compared to the placebo group, a statistically significant drop in the average blood glucose level was observed with the administration of banaba extract.

1. Suzuki Y et al. "Antiobesity activity of extracts from Lagerstroemia speciosa L. leaves on female KK-Ay mice." J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 45, 6:791-5, 1999. http://eishoku.bcasj.or.jp/journal-e.html

2. Hayashi T et al. "Ellagitannins from Lagerstroemia speciosa as activators of glucose transport in fat cells." Planta Med. 68, 2:173-5, 2002.

3. Kakuda T et al. "Hypoglycemic effect of extracts from Lagerstroemia speciosa L. leaves in genetically diabetic KK-AY mice." Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 60, 2:204-8, 1996. www.jsbba.or.jp/bbindexj.html

4. Judy WV. "Glucosol™ Clinical Study Synopsis." Report from Soft Gel Technologies Inc. 1999.

5. ibid.