Banaba

Banaba/Drug Interactions:

  • AntibioticsAntibiotics: In vitro, Lagerstroemia speciosa seed extract showed antibacterial activity against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (21).
  • AntidiabeticsAntidiabetics: Banaba has lowered blood glucose in both animal and human studies (2; 17), and studies in vitro suggest that constituents of banaba may have insulin-like effects (22) or activate insulin receptors (23). In vitro, an extract of Lagerstroemia speciosa L. exerted insulin-like glucose uptake-stimulatory and adipocyte differentiation-inhibitory activity in 3T3-L1 cells (24). According to animal data, the Lythraceae family may increase the rate of glucose uptake and decrease the isoproterenol-induced glycerol release (23).
  • AntifungalsAntifungals: In vitro, extracts from Lagerstroemia speciosa demonstrated strong antifungal activity against Arthrinium sacchari and Chaetomium funicola (3).
  • Antigout agentsAntigout agents: In in vitro research, valoneic acid, a constituent of banaba, has demonstrated xanthine oxidase-inhibiting activity (7).
  • AntihypertensivesAntihypertensives: In an animal model of metabolic syndrome, male SHR-cp rats were fed a high-fat diet containing 0.072% corosolic acid for 14 weeks, which lowered blood pressure and serum free fatty acids (18).
  • Anti-inflammatoriesAnti-inflammatories: Lagerstroemia speciosa has not been observed to affect Pseudomonas aeruginosa-dependent interleukin (IL)-8 mRNA induction in bronchial epithelial cells in vitro (25). In carrageenan-induced acute inflammation and formalin-induced (chronic) paw edema models, an ethyl acetate extract of Lagerstroemia speciosa L. reduced the paw edema significantly in a dose-dependent manner, whereas ethanol extract did not show dose-dependent activity (26).
  • AntilipemicsAntilipemics: In KK-Ay diabetic mice fed a high-fat diet (an animal model of type 2 diabetes), corosolic acid inhibited mean blood cholesterol levels (27).
  • AntineoplasticsAntineoplastics: In vitro, low concentrations of extracts from Lagerstroemia speciosa inhibited interactions between nuclear factors and target DNA elements mimicking sequences recognized by the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) (28). In vitro, extracts of Lagerstroemia speciosa inhibited cell proliferation in human tumor cell lines, including human erythromyeloid K562 (29).
  • Antiobesity agentsAntiobesity agents: In studies in obese mice, banaba appeared to control weight gain (13); however, this effect has not been studied in humans.
  • Antiviral agentsAntiviral agents: In vitro, orobol 7-O-D-glucoside from banaba induced a cytotoxic effect on human rhinovirus (HRV) as evidenced by a 50% cytotoxicity concentration (CC50) of more than 100mcg/mL, and the derived therapeutic indices of more than 12 (5).
  • Dopamine agonistsDopamine agonists: In in vitro research, the sulfation of dopamine was inhibited by extracts of banaba (30).
  • Drugs used for osteoporosisDrugs used for osteoporosis: In vitro, corosolic acid (2alpha-hydroxyursolic acid), an active component of banaba leaves, induced NF-kappaB and MAP kinase activity at an early stage of osteoblast differentiation and increased the activity of the transcription factor AP-1 during late-stage osteoblast differentiation (10).
  • Organic anion-transporting polypeptide B substratesOrganic anion-transporting polypeptide B substrates: In in vitro research, extract of banaba, at concentrations likely attainable in the human intestine, inhibited estrone-3-sulfate uptake (31).

    • Banaba/Herb/Supplement Interactions:

  • AntibacterialsAntibacterials: In vitro, Lagerstroemia speciosa seed extract showed antibacterial activity against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (21).
  • AntifungalsAntifungals: In vitro, extracts from Lagerstroemia speciosa demonstrated strong antifungal activity against Arthrinium sacchari and Chaetomium funicola (3).
  • Antigout agentsAntigout agents: In in vitro research, valoneic acid, a constituent of banaba, has been demonstrated to possess xanthine oxidase-inhibiting activity (7).
  • Anti-inflammatoriesAnti-inflammatories: Lagerstroemia speciosa has not been observed to affect Pseudomonas aeruginosa-dependent interleukin (IL)-8 mRNA induction in bronchial epithelial cells in vitro (25). In carrageenan-induced acute inflammation and formalin-induced (chronic) paw edema models, an ethyl acetate extract of Lagerstroemia speciosa L. reduced the paw edema significantly in a dose-dependent manner, whereas ethanol extract did not show dose-dependent activity (26).
  • AntilipemicsAntilipemics: In KK-Ay diabetic mice fed a high-fat diet (an animal model of type 2 diabetes), corosolic acid inhibited mean blood cholesterol levels (27).
  • Antiobesity agentsAntiobesity agents: In studies in obese mice, banaba appeared to control weight gain (13); however, this effect has not been studied in humans.
  • AntioxidantsAntioxidants: Extracts of Lagerstroemia speciosa have demonstrated antioxidant effects in vitro (32; 26). In an animal model of metabolic syndrome, male SHR-cp rats were fed a high-fat diet containing 0.072% corosolic acid for 14 weeks, which decreased the levels of oxidative stress markers, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (18).
  • AntineoplasticsAntineoplastics: In vitro, low concentrations of extracts from Lagerstroemia speciosa inhibited interactions between nuclear factors and target DNA elements mimicking sequences recognized by the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) (28). In vitro, extracts of Lagerstroemia speciosa inhibited cell proliferation in human tumor cell lines, including human erythromyeloid K562 (29).
  • AntiviralsAntivirals: In vitro, orobol 7-O-D-glucoside from banaba induced a cytotoxic effect on human rhinovirus (HRV) as evidenced by a 50% cytotoxicity concentration (CC50) of more than 100mcg/mL, and the derived therapeutic indices of more than 12 (5).
  • Dopamine agonistsDopamine agonists: In in vitro research, the sulfation of dopamine was inhibited by extracts of banaba (30).
  • HypoglycemicsHypoglycemics: Banaba has lowered blood glucose in both animal and human studies (2; 17), and studies in vitro suggest that constituents of banaba may have insulin-like effects (22) or activate insulin receptors (23). In vitro, an extract of Lagerstroemia speciosa L. exerted insulin-like glucose uptake-stimulatory and adipocyte differentiation-inhibitory activity in 3T3-L1 cells (24). According to animal data, the Lythraceae family may increase the rate of glucose uptake and decrease the isoproterenol-induced glycerol release (23).
  • HypotensivesHypotensives: In an animal model of metabolic syndrome, male SHR-cp rats were fed a high-fat diet containing 0.072% corosolic acid for 14 weeks, which lowered blood pressure and serum free fatty acids (18).
  • Organic anion-transporting polypeptide B substratesOrganic anion-transporting polypeptide B substrates: In in vitro research, extract of banaba, at concentrations likely attainable in the human intestine, inhibited estrone-3-sulfate uptake (31).
  • Osteoporosis agentsOsteoporosis agents: In vitro, corosolic acid (2alpha-hydroxyursolic acid), an active component of banaba leaves, induced NF-kappaB and MAP kinase activity at an early stage of osteoblast differentiation and increased the activity of the transcription factor AP-1 during late-stage osteoblast differentiation (10).

    • Banaba/Food Interactions:

  • GeneralGeneral: Banaba may influence glucose absorption from food (33).

    • Banaba/Lab Interactions:

  • Blood glucoseBlood glucose: Banaba may lead to lower blood glucose levels (2).
  • Blood pressureBlood pressure: In an animal model of metabolic syndrome, male SHR-cp rats were fed a high-fat diet containing 0.072% corosolic acid for 14 weeks, which lowered blood pressure (18).
  • Body weightBody weight: According to studies in obese mice, banaba appeared to control weight gain (13); however, this effect has not been studied in humans.
  • Hemoglobin A1cHemoglobin A1c: In db/db mice (a typical non-insulin-dependent model) fed a diet of 0.5% banaba leaf water extract diet or a 0.5% combination diet of mulberry leaf water extract, Korean red ginseng, and banaba leaf water extract (1:1:1), hemoglobin (HbA1c) was reduced (34).
  • InsulinInsulin: In KK-Ay mice fed a high-fat diet, corosolic acid treatment reduced fasting plasma insulin (4).
  • Lipid profileLipid profile: In KK-Ay diabetic mice fed a high-fat diet (an animal model of type 2 diabetes), corosolic acid inhibited mean blood cholesterol levels and reduced fasting plasma triglyceride levels (27). One lab study found that banaba may lower triglycerides (13).
  • Renal function testsRenal function tests: An ethyl acetate extract of Lagerstroemia speciosa L. ameliorated cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in mice, as measured by urea and creatinine concentrations (9).