Banaba: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

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.

Uses & Effectiveness

We currently have no information for Banaba overview.

Side Effects

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.

Special Precautions and 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.

Interactions

Moderate Interaction

Be cautious with this combination

Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with Banaba
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) interacts with Banaba
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) interacts with Banaba
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.

Dosing

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.

View References

REFERENCES:

Judy WV, Hari SP, Stogsdill WW, et al. Antidiabetic activity of a standardized extract (Glucosol) from Lagerstroemia speciosa leaves in Type II diabetics. A dose-dependence study. J Ethnopharmacol 2003;87:115-7.

Kakuda T, Sakane I, Takihara T, et al. Hypoglycemic effect of extracts from Lagerstroemia speciosa L. leaves in genetically diabetic KK-AY mice. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 1996;60:204-8.

Hayashi T, Maruyama H, Kasai R, et al. Ellagitannins from Lagerstroemia speciosa as activators of glucose transport in fat cells. Planta Med 2002;68:173-5.

Hattori K, Sukenobu N, Sasaki T, et al. Activation of insulin receptors by lagerstroemin. J Pharmacol Sci 2003;93:69-73.

Unno T, Sugimoto A, Kakuda T. Xanthine oxidase inhibitors from the leaves of Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. J Ethnopharmacol 2004;93:391-5.

Suzuki Y, Unno T, Ushitani M, et al. Antiobesity activity of extracts from Lagerstroemia speciosa L. leaves on female KK-Ay mice. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo) 1999;45:791-5.

Khan, M. T., Lampronti, I., Martello, D., Bianchi, N., Jabbar, S., Choudhuri, M. S., Datta, B. K., and Gambari, R. Identification of pyrogallol as an antiproliferative compound present in extracts from the medicinal plant Emblica officinalis: effects on in vitro cell growth of human tumor cell lines. Int.J.Oncol. 2002;21(1):187-192.

Fukushima, M., Matsuyama, F., Ueda, N., Egawa, K., Takemoto, J., Kajimoto, Y., Yonaha, N., Miura, T., Kaneko, T., Nishi, Y., Mitsui, R., Fujita, Y., Yamada, Y., and Seino, Y. Effect of corosolic acid on postchallenge plasma glucose levels. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2006;73(2):174-177.

Lampronti, I., Khan, M. T., Bianchi, N., Ather, A., Borgatti, M., Vizziello, L., Fabbri, E., and Gambari, R. Bangladeshi medicinal plant extracts inhibiting molecular interactions between nuclear factors and target DNA sequences mimicking NF-kappaB binding sites. Med Chem 2005;1(4):327-333.

Yamaguchi, Y., Yamada, K., Yoshikawa, N., Nakamura, K., Haginaka, J., and Kunitomo, M. Corosolic acid prevents oxidative stress, inflammation and hypertension in SHR/NDmcr-cp rats, a model of metabolic syndrome. Life Sci 11-25-2006;79(26):2474-2479.

Fuchikami H, Satoh H, Tsujimoto M, Ohdo S, Ohtani H, Sawada Y. Effects of herbal extracts on the function of human organic anion-transporting polypeptide OATP-B. Drug Metab Dispos 2006;34:577-82.

Manaf A, Tjandrawinata RR, Malinda D. Insulin sensitizer in prediabetes: a clinical study with DLBS3233, a combined bioactive fraction of Cinnamomum burmanii and Lagerstroemia speciosa. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2016;10:1279-89.

Tjokroprawiro A, Murtiwi S, Tjandrawinata RR. DLBS3233, a combined bioactive fraction of Cinnamomum burmanii and Lagerstroemia speciosa, in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients inadequately controlled by metformin and other oral antidiabetic agents. J Complement Integr Med. 2016;13(4):413-20.

López-Murillo LD, González-Ortiz M, Martínez-Abundis E, Cortez-Navarrete M, Pérez-Rubio KG. Effect of Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa) on Metabolic Syndrome, Insulin Sensitivity, and Insulin Secretion. J Med Food 2022;25(2):177-182.

Aleissa MS, Al-Zharani M, Alneghery LM, et al. Lagerstroemia speciosa Ameliorated Blood Pressure in LNAME Induced Hypertension in Experimental Rats through NO/cGMP and Oxidative Stress Modulation. Biomed Res Int 2022;2022:5894416.

CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is licensed from Therapeutic Research Center, LLC. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
Licensed from Therapeutic Research Center, LLC
Copyright © 1995-2025 by Therapeutic Research Center, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Banaba - Uses, Side Effects, and More