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Original price €32,90 - Original price €32,90

Original price €32,90

Current price €29,28

€29,28 - €29,28

Current price €29,28

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Gluco Rapid GDA · 90 capsules

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GN Laboratories

Carbohydrates are an important source of energy for the body. They are mainly transported into the cells either in the form of glucose, where they ...
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Original price €32,90

Original price €32,90 - Original price €32,90

Original price €32,90

Current price €29,28

€29,28 - €29,28

Current price €29,28

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What is banaba?

Lagerstroemia speciosa - better known as banaba - is a tropical tree that grows in the Philippines. Naturopaths (and people looking for natural ingredients to supplement their disease treatment) use banaba to treat diabetes (1). Water and ethanol extracts of the leaves of this tree are sold in capsule form and used to help lower blood sugar or promote weight loss. These capsules often contain other ingredients such as green tea, green coffee, gymnea, tamarind, black pepper and/or metallic compounds such as vanadium and magnesium (1).

Active ingredients and mechanisms of action of banaba extracts

The active ingredients of banaba leaf extracts include corosolic acid, lagerstroemine and gallotannins (2).

Corosolic acid has been shown to lower blood glucose levels in human and animal studies, possibly due to the following mechanisms (2, 3, 4):

Activation of higher glucose uptake by the cells
Inhibition of the breakdown of starch or sucrose into glucose molecules
Preventing the production of glucose for the purpose of energy supply from non

carbohydrate sources (gluconeogenesis) by the body

It has also been shown that corosolic acid can lower blood lipid levels (triglycerides, total cholesterol and "bad" LDL cholesterol) (5). Banaba also contains ellagitannins, a type of molecule found in many fruits and nuts such as pomegranates, strawberries and almonds (6). Ellagitannins such as lagistroemin may increase glucose transport activity by activating glucose transporters (GLUTs) and promoting the production of more signaling molecules. Signaling molecules such as Nf-kB and MAPK, together with GLUTs, help cells to take up glucose and use it for energy (3, 7). PGG, one of Banaba's key gallotannins, inhibited fat cell production (adipogenesis) in cell studies. Gallotannins are a type of tannic acid - the class of compounds that can lower blood sugar levels in diabetic patients. These mechanisms have led some scientists to call for more in-depth studies of banaba's anti-diabetic potential (3).

Possible health benefits of banaba

Banaba can lower blood sugar levels

Banaba leaves may help lower blood sugar levels by improving glucose tolerance. Banaba can reduce glucose production in the body by up to 30% and also reduce the breakdown of more complex carbohydrate molecules such as starch and glucagon into glucose (3). Unlike many anti-diabetes drugs, Banaba has not been observed to promote weight gain (3). In a one-year study, 15 diabetics took 100 mg of pure, water-soluble banaba extract. After both 6 and 12 months, the subjects showed significantly improved glucose tolerance. At the end of the one-year study, their blood glucose levels had dropped by 16% without hypoglycemia (1). In another clinical trial, 24 patients with mild type 2 diabetes were given a mixture of banaba, green tea, green coffee and gracinia (tamarind) three times a day. An average reduction in blood glucose levels of 13.5% was observed in the subjects (1). In another two-week study with 10 type 2 diabetics, the subjects took 32 or 48 mg Banaba capsules (with a corosolic acid content of 1%) per day. At the end of the clinical trial, they showed a 30% reduction in blood glucose levels (1).

Banaba could help with prediabetes

People with prediabetic insulin resistance could also benefit from Banaba. In a 12-week clinical trial with 80 prediabetic adults, a banaba extract improved insulin sensitivity and maintained pancreatic beta cell function. However, banaba did not reduce blood glucose spikes after a meal (8). Further clinical studies are needed to determine how useful banaba is in controlling insulin resistance and preventing the development of diabetes.

Banaba could support weight management

Weight gain is a common side effect of diabetes and, unfortunately, many anti-diabetes medications prescribed to lower blood sugar levels appear to promote fat storage. However, no weight gain has been observed with banaba leaf extracts. Some scientists believe that banaba can prevent glucose storage molecules such as starch and glucagon from being broken down into simple sugars. In combination with green coffee bean extract and vitamin D3, banaba improved markers of body composition (fat mass and lean body mass) in a study of 30 diabetics (3, 9). It also reduced the production of new fat cells (adipocytes) and lowered blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels (2, 3, 4, 10). In a 60-day pilot study with 30 volunteers, a mixture of banaba, green coffee beans, vitamin D3 and Moringa oleifera leaf extract reduced body fat levels compared to a placebo (11).

Banaba has antioxidant effects

A banaba leaf extract reduced superoxide levels in rats. If left unchecked, superoxide can impair cell function and increase the survival rate of bacteria after infection (12, 13). In diabetic mice, a banaba extract helped increase levels of catalase - an antioxidant enzyme in the body. Catalase helps neutralize hydrogen peroxide (H2Os) - a reactive oxygen compound (12, 14).

Banaba extract could reduce the risk of heart disease

Banaba leaf extract contains gallotannins, which are a subclass of tannic acid. These compounds inhibit the production of endothelin-1 - a protein that is strongly involved in heart disease (3). Treatment with corosolic acid - one of the active compounds in banaba - has been shown to significantly reduce blood pressure in rats with hypertension (1). However, these effects have yet to be studied in humans.

Banaba could have hepatoprotective effects

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is a disease of the liver that leads to excessive accumulation of fat in the liver. Excessive consumption of fructose is one of the main causes of this disease. In rats, a banaba extract was able to reduce liver damage in rats with steatohepatitis and also lowered cholesterol and ALT levels in the blood (15). These effects also need to be replicated in humans.

Banaba may have anti-inflammatory effects

Corosolic acid contained in banaba leaf extract helped to prevent inflammation in mice by inhibiting the formation of arachidonic acid. This prevented the formation of prostaglandins and leukotrienes (1). Prostaglandins are the hormones that cause pain as a side effect of inflammation and leukotrienes are cells that release pro-inflammatory cytokines (1, 16, 17). In cells, a banaba extract blocked the activation of pro-inflammatory NF-kappaB (18).

Banaba could have antiviral effects

Corosolic acid, gallic acid and ellagic acid contained in banaba leaf extract inhibit enzymes that viruses use to take over human cells (proteases and reverse transcriptases) In cells, these acids help prevent viral infections by pathogens such as HRV-4 (common cold virus) and HIV (3, 19, 20). However, these effects have not yet been studied in animals or humans.

Banaba could have antibacterial effects

In a bacterial study, an aqueous banaba leaf extract successfully inhibited the growth of harmful bacteria such as S. aureus, B. subtilis, P. aeruginosa and E. coli (21). This antibacterial effect may be due to the bioactive tannins and triterpenoids contained in banaba (21). These effects have not yet been studied in animals or humans.

Banaba in the field of cancer research

Corosolic acid, one of banaba's primary active compounds, is currently being investigated for possible use in cancer therapy due to its potential to kill isolated colon cancer cells in the laboratory (22). Scientists have found that corosolic acid inhibits 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13 acetate (TPA), a compound that promotes tumor growth. Based on these results, scientists want to investigate whether active compounds contained in banaba can prevent the development of cancer (23, 24).

Limitations

Many of the aforementioned benefits of banaba have been observed in animal studies. Few human studies have been conducted with banaba and these often used a mixture of supplements, making it difficult to assess which benefits are exclusive to banaba.

Safety and side effects

Banaba is potentially safe and harmless for most people when taken orally for short periods of time. Nothing is known about the safety of long-term use of Banaba.

Precautions and warnings:

Pregnancy and lactation: not enough is known about the use of Banaba during pregnancy and lactation. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid Banaba to be on the safe side.
Diabetes: Banaba can affect blood sugar control, so diabetics should monitor their blood sugar levels carefully. If you suffer from diabetes, you should consult your doctor before using banaba.
Surgeries: Banaba could affect blood sugar levels and make blood sugar control more difficult during and after surgery. For this reason, you should stop taking Banaba at least 2 weeks before an operation.

Interactions with medications

Care should be taken when combining Banaba with the following medications:

Diabetes medications

Banaba could lower blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar levels. Taking Banaba in combination with diabetes medication could result in an excessive drop in blood sugar levels. For this reason, blood glucose levels should be carefully monitored. It is possible that the dosage of diabetes medication may need to be adjusted.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of Banaba depends on various factors such as age, health status and others. At this time, there is insufficient scientific data to make a statement about appropriate dosage ranges for Banaba. For this reason, you should follow the dosing instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use. Different studies have used 32 to 48 mg of banaba extract with a corosolic acid content of 1% per day in adults (3).

References

Further sources

Hattori K, Sukenobu N, Sasaki T, et al. Activation of insulin receptors by lagerstroemin. J Pharmacol Sci 2003;93:69-73.
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.
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.
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.
Unno T, Sugimoto A, Kakuda T. Xanthine oxidase inhibitors from the leaves of Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. J Ethnopharmacol 2004;93:391-5.

Banaba

Gluco Rapid GDA · 90 capsules