Banaba Leaf for Fat Loss

Tropical plant banaba may support weight loss through regulating blood sugar and reducing fat formation.

Banaba is a tropical plant whose leaves are used as a traditional remedy for diabetes. It might also be capable of promoting fat loss through:

• Lowering blood sugar, which may reduce carbohydrate cravings and help manage body weight.
  
• Suppressing fat formation through inhibiting the process of adipogenesis.
  

Overview

Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa) is a flowering plant native to southern Asia. It is best known as a traditional herb used in the Philippines to ward off diabetes and kidney conditions. The leaves of banaba contain several bio-active ingredients that include ellagitannins and corosolic acid, which have an insulin-like effect that helps lower elevated blood sugar levels – the central feature of  diabetes.

In addition, these compounds may also be able to suppress the formation of new fat cells. Given these two beneficial effects, banaba leaf extract has become a common ingredient in both antidiabetic and weight loss supplements.

How Banaba Leaf Might Help With Weight Loss

Suppressing fat formation

The process of adipogenesis (fat cell formation) includes cells called preadipocytes which transition into full adipocytes (fat cells). The ellagitannins (particularly penta-O-galloyl-glucopyranose) in banaba leaf have been demonstrated to suppress this process in isolated cells.¹

Lowering blood glucose

Elevated blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia) is a central feature of diabetes and may also make it more difficult to manage body weight. The corosolic acid and ellagitannins present in banaba leaf have been demonstrated to promote glucose uptake, and reduce gluconeogenesis and the digestion of carbohydrates, resulting in reduced blood glucose concentrations.²

Banaba Leaf Fat Loss Benefits

Banaba leaf extract is used in both standalone and multi-ingredient antidiabetic and weight loss supplements. Research evidence for banaba’s beneficial effect on blood sugar levels is fairly solid, and some people also report reduced carbohydrate cravings.

Banaba leaf may also be capable of promoting fat and overall weight loss; however, it is important to note that this effect has yet to be examined in human trials.

Research

Animal Research

Animal research demonstrates that compounds in banaba leaves may be able to both control blood sugar and promote weight loss.

Ellagitannins in banaba leaves may supress fat cell formation and improve blood glucose

The goal of this study was to examine the biological activities of the active compounds in banaba. The researchers isolated seven ellagitannin compounds and then tested their effects on isolated mouse preadypocites (precursors to fat cells). The ellagitannins were found to both stimulate the uptake of glucose, and also suppress the transition from preadipocytes into fat cells.

• The researchers concluded that “this provides a potential to develop banaba-derived compounds as glucose-lowering and weight-controlling supplemental products“³

Banaba leaf extract appears to reduce weight gain in diabetic mice

In this study, diabetic mice were fed either a normal (control) diet or a diet containing 5% banaba leaf extract. The banaba group saw a significant reduction in body weight gain and fat tissue in some parts of the body, as well as lowered liver fat content.

• The researchers concluded that “banaba had a beneficial effect on obese female KK-Ay mice“⁴

Corosolic acid may decrease body weight and fat mass in mice

This study examined the effects of corosolic acid in mice fed a high-fat diet for 9 weeks. The treatment significantly lowered blood glucose, insulin, and triglyceride levels. More importantly, it also resulted in a 10% body weight and 15% fat loss.

• The researchers concluded that “CRA treatment can contribute to reduced body weight and amelioration of hepatic steatosis in mice fed a high fat diet“⁵

Human Research

The major issue with human trials of banaba leaf extract is that most studies examine proprietary, multi-ingredient supplements, which makes it difficult to isolate the effects of banaba alone.

Banaba leaf extract appears to reduce blood sugar in type 2 diabetics

This randomized trial examined the antidiabetic effect of banaba leaf extract. Ten adults (aged 55-70) with type 2 diabetes received the extract (16 – 48 mg, standardized to 1% corosolic acid) daily for 15 days and had their blood glucose measured. The 32 and 48 mg doses were found to reduce blood sugar by as much as 30%.

• The researchers concluded that “These results clearly show that oral formulations of an extract from the leaves of Lagerstroemia speciosa…exert a marked lowering of blood sugar in Type II diabetics“⁶

Dosage for Fat Loss

• Banaba has not yet been examined as a weight loss supplement in humans, but doses of 16 – 48 mg banaba leaf extract have been used for diabetics
• Banaba leaf extract supplements usually come in 60 – 300 mg doses, and may be standardized to contain 1-2% corosolic acid
• Banaba leaves can also come in the form of herbal tea