Banaba
Scientific names: Lagerstroemia speciosa, Lagerstroemia flos-reginae, Munchausia speciosa
Family: Lythraceae
Alternate names: Banaba Extract, Banabalean, Corosolic Acid, Crape Myrtle, Crepe Myrtle, Extrait de Banaba, Myrte de Crêpe, Pride-of-India, Pyinma, Queen's Crape Myrtle
Actions: Anticancer, Antidiabetes effect, Weight loss effect, Xanthine oxidase inhibitory effect
Background
Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa) is a type of crepe myrtle that grows in India, the Philippines, and Southeast Asia. The leaves are used as medicine.
Banaba might reduce blood sugar and help the body use insulin more efficiently.
People use banaba for prediabetes, diabetes, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Banaba might reduce blood sugar and help the body use insulin more efficiently.
People use banaba for prediabetes, diabetes, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Banaba is possibly safe when used short-term. It's been used safely for up to 2 weeks. There isn't enough reliable information to know if banaba is safe to use long-term. Side effects might include dizziness, headache, and upset stomach.
Surgery: Banaba might affect blood sugar levels and could make blood sugar control more difficult during and after surgery. Stop using banaba at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if banaba is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.Surgery: Banaba might affect blood sugar levels and could make blood sugar control more difficult during and after surgery. Stop using banaba at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Effectiveness
Effective Effectiveness definitions
There is interest in using banaba for a number of purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
Dosing & administration
There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of banaba might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Banaba might might lower blood sugar levels. Taking banaba along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.
Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Banaba might lower blood pressure. Taking banaba along with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low. Monitor your blood pressure closely.
Medications moved by pumps in cells (Organic anion-transporting polypeptide substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are moved in and out of cells by pumps. Banaba might change how these pumps work and change how much medication stays in the body. In some cases, this might change the effects and side effects of a medication.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood pressure: Banaba might lower blood pressure. Taking it with other supplements that have the same effect might cause blood pressure to drop too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include andrographis, casein peptides, L-arginine, niacin, and stinging nettle.
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Banaba might lower blood sugar. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might lower blood sugar too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include aloe, bitter melon, cassia cinnamon, chromium, and prickly pear cactus.
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Banaba might lower blood sugar. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might lower blood sugar too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include aloe, bitter melon, cassia cinnamon, chromium, and prickly pear cactus.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
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This monograph was last reviewed on 08/03/2024 11:00:00 and last updated on 07/09/2022 06:35:25. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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Natural Medicines rates safety based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Likely Safe, Possibly Safe, Possibly Unsafe, Likely Unsafe, Unsafe, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. For more information about Natural Medicines’ Safety Rating System, click here.
The Natural Medicines Effectiveness Ratings are assigned for specific indications. A product might be rated "Possibly Effective" for one condition, but be rated "Likely Ineffective" for another condition, depending on the evidence. For more info click here.
