Banaba Leaf
Lagerstroemia speciosa L.

Management of Diabetes and Its Complications with Banaba
(Lagerstroemia speciosa L.) and Corosolic Acid
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012 (Oct 2);   2012:   871495
Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa L.) extracts have been used for many years in folk medicine to treat diabetes, with the first published research study being reported in 1940. This paper summarizes the current literature regarding Banaba and its constituents. The hypoglycemic effects of Banaba have been attributed to both corosolic acid as well as ellagitannins. Studies have been conducted in various animal models, human subjects, and in vitro systems using water soluble Banaba leaf extracts, corosolic acid, and ellagitannins.

Effects of Malted Barley Extract and Banaba Extract on
Blood Glucose Levels in Genetically Diabetic Mice
J Med Food 2004 (Winter);   7 (4):   487–490
This study investigated the therapeutic effects of a malted barley extract (MBE) and of banaba extract on blood glucose, insulin, and other biochemical parameters in genetically diabetic mice. (T)he results of this study demonstrate that MBE alleviates many of the symptoms of diabetes in genetically obese mice and may offer promise as a therapeutic supplement for the normalization of blood glucose levels in humans with hyperglycemia and have beneficial effects in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Antiobesity Activity of Extracts from Lagerstroemia speciosa L.
Leaves on Female KK-Ay Mice
J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo) 1999 (Dec);   45 (6):   791–795
Banaba in the Tagalog name, Lagerstroemia speciosa L., has been used as a folk medicine for a long time among diabetics in the Philippines.

Hypoglycemic Effect of Extracts from Lagerstroemia speciosa L.
Leaves in Genetically Diabetic KK-AY Mice
Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 1996 (Feb);   60 (2):   204–208
The hypoglycemic effects of Lagerstroemia speciosa L., known by the Tagalog name of banaba in the Phillipines, were studied using hereditary diabetic mice (Type II, KK-AY/Ta Jcl).