Banaba Extract

Listing ID #4597474

Banaba is the best source of corosolic acid, a known agent that helps absorb glucose into blood cells according to Japanese studies.

Several of the active constituents included in Banaba Leaf are corosolic acid and tannins, including lagerstroemin.

As such, banaba plays a role in regulating levels of blood sugar and insulin in the blood. By keeping blood sugar and insulin levels in check, banaba may be an effective supplement for promoting weight loss in certain individuals. 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.

In humans with type II diabetes, banaba extract, at a dose of 16-48mg per day for 4-8 weeks, has been shown to be effective in reducing blood sugar levels (5%-30% reduction) and maintaining tighter control of blood sugar fluctuations. An interesting “side-effect” of tighter control of blood sugar and insulin levels is a significant tendency of banaba to promote weight loss (an average of 2-4 lbs. per month) – without significant dietary alterations. It is likely that modulation of glucose and insulin levels reduces total caloric intake somewhat and encourages moderate weight loss.

(A) Diabetes – Banaba contains corosolic acid that acts like insulin by lowering the blood sugar in the body. Corosolic acid is a triterpenoid glycoside that improves the cellular uptake of glucose.

This component was observed to be an activator of glucose transport into cells, which ultimately results in a lowering of blood glucose levels. Transporting glucose into cells is critical for providing the energy necessary for those cells to carry out their vital functions.

There were hypoglycemic effects produced by Banaba in those who were genetically predisposed to diabetes. In a small study in patients with Type-2 diabetes, it was found that an extract from Banaba Leaf (called Glucosol) lowered glucose levels in the blood.

-there was a lowering of blood sugar in the subjects, even after eating carbohydrates;
-elevation of blood glucose in non-insulin dependent diabetic individual was almost entirely suppressed.
-serum insulin levels (the amount of glucose excreted in the urine) were also lower in the subjects that were fed Banaba.

(2) Weight loss for its ability to delay or reduce the absorption of carbohydraes.

Banaba has been observed to have anti-obesity effects. For some people, fluctuations in blood glucose levels are related to hunger and food cravings, particularly carbohydrates and sweets, and by controlling the blood sugar levels, Banaba

may reduce the appetite and craving for breads and sweets.

Also, those fed with Banaba leaf showed a significant decrease in weight and adipose tissue (fat), in comparison to another group on the same diet, without Banaba.

An added benefit of taking banaba leaf extract is – weight loss without dieting.

(3) Banaba is also rich in vitamins and minerals including zinc and magnesium.

(4) Banaba is also rich in dietary fibers.

Banaba leaf extract may play a role in the treatment of diabetes, by affecting factors (such as blood glucose level) that are associated with the developement of diabetes. Banaba leaf extract reduced blood glucose, significantly increased insulin sensitivity and improved hyperglycemia, lowered hepatic lipid contents and triglycerides.