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Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa / Corosolic Acid)
A tropical leaf (corosolic acid) with an insulin-like, GLUT4-mediated glucose-uptake mechanism and a small human signal for lowering post-meal blood glucose — but human evidence is limited and mostly small/short trials.
What the evidence says
Most Banaba studies are mechanism or observational rather than RCTs that measure a clinical effect — keep findings provisional.
Most evidence is from medium-quality randomised trials published 2006–2012 with a typical study size of 31 participants.
Based on 4 studies · 1 RCT · 31 total participants
Confidence
LowBy outcome
Banaba has an evidence score of 4/10 — emerging evidence based on 4 indexed studies. A tropical leaf (corosolic acid) with an insulin-like, GLUT4-mediated glucose-uptake mechanism and a small human signal for lowering post-meal blood glucose — but human evidence is limited and mostly small/short trials. Representative study: PMID 16549220.
The commonly studied dose of Banaba is Banaba leaf extract standardized to 1-2% corosolic acid; ~32-48mg corosolic acid daily. Individual needs vary — start at the lower end of the range and adjust based on how you respond.
See full supplement plans that include Banaba.
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Last reviewed June 2026 · evidence from 4 studies · how we score
This information is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any supplement or medication.
Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa) is a tropical tree whose leaves contain corosolic acid and ellagitannins. These act in an insulin-like way, promoting GLUT4-mediated glucose uptake, which is the basis for its use in blood-sugar support. A small controlled human trial found corosolic acid lowered post-challenge (post-meal) glucose, and animal/cell studies show anti-diabetic and anti-obesity activity. The honest picture: the human evidence base is thin — small, short trials — so it sits at the emerging end despite a plausible mechanism. Often standardized to 1-2% corosolic acid.
Corosolic acid promotes insulin-like GLUT4 translocation, increasing cellular glucose uptake.
Ellagitannins may slow carbohydrate digestion, blunting post-meal glucose.
How Banaba works — from molecular targets to health outcomes. Click an edge to see supporting research.This visualization is in beta — pathways are being refined and expanded.
Banaba leaf extract standardized to 1-2% corosolic acid; ~32-48mg corosolic acid daily
Take with food
| Form | Type |
|---|---|
| 💊Corosolic-acid-standardized banaba extract | Recommended |
| 🍵Leaf tea | Alternative |
Standardize to corosolic acid.
Minimum: 2 weeks
Optimal: 8 weeks
Cycling: Not required
Note: With carbohydrate meals.
Dose-response data unavailable. The current published research for Banaba does not provide sufficient dose-specific outcome data to generate reliable dose-response curves.
Refer to the Dosage & Timing section above for recommended dose ranges based on available evidence.
May reduce post-meal blood glucose.
Promotes glucose uptake via GLUT4.
Monitor blood glucose — additive lowering possible.
Avoid — insufficient data.
Additive glucose-lowering — monitor for hypoglycemia.
Tip: Monitor blood glucose
Tip: Take with food
The best time to take Banaba is with meals. Take it with food. Taken before/with carbohydrate-containing meals to blunt post-meal glucose.
Banaba is generally safe at recommended doses, with a few precautions worth noting. The most commonly reported side effects are hypoglycemia (with diabetes meds), mild GI upset. Use caution if any of these apply to you: Use with diabetes medication (additive glucose-lowering); Pregnancy/breastfeeding (insufficient data).
A polyphenol-rich spice studied mainly for modest improvements in blood sugar and blood lipids; choose Ceylon to limit coumarin.
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