Common Name: |
Pride of India |
Other Names: |
Banaba, Crape Myrtle, Crepe Myrtle, Queen's Crape Myrtle, Queen's Myrtle |
Botanical Name: |
Lagerstoemia speciosa |
Genus: |
Lagerstoemia |
Family: |
Lythraceae |
Native Location: |
India, Southeast Asia and the Philippines. |
Traditional Uses: |
Include brewing tea from the leaves as a treatment for diabetes and hyperglycemia or high blood sugar. |
Medicinal Uses: |
Japanese researchers have conducted numerous studies and found that Banaba extract contains corosolic acid which has actions in stimulating glucose transport into cells. Because of this action, corosolic acid behaves similarly to insulin. By keeping blood sugar and insulin levels in check, banaba may be an effective supplement for promoting weight loss in certain individuals. An interesting “side-effect” of tighter control of blood sugar and insulin levels is a significant tendency of banaba to promote weight loss (an average of 2-4 lbs. per month) without significant dietary alterations. It is likely that modulation of glucose and insulin levels reduces total caloric intake somewhat and encourages moderate weight loss. |
Height: |
40-60ft |
Width: |
30-40ft |
Economic Uses: |
In India, the wood is used for railroad ties and construction. |
Hardiness: |
Z10-11 |
Botanical/Horticultural Uses: |
Large parking lot islands (200 square feet in size); wide tree lawns (6 feet wide); medium-sized parking lot islands (100-200 square feet in size); medium-sized tree lawns (4-6 feet wide); recommended for buffer strips around parking lots or for median strip plantings in the highway; shade tree; narrow tree lawns (3-4 feet wide); specimen; residential street tree; tree has been successfully grown in urban areas where air pollution, poor drainage, compacted soil, and/or drought are common |
Cultivation: |
Tree grows in full sun tolerates:clay; loam; sand; acidic; alkaline; well-drained soil. |
Propagation: |
By cuttings, division of root suckers, or by seed which germinate readily. Plants will flower the second year from seed. There are other species of tropical Lagerstroemia, some available in selected nurseries. Plants under grown under cover and in nurseries may be subject to Aphids and scale, followed by sooty mold. |
Parts Use: |
Leaves |
Possible Side Effects: |
No serious side effects have been reported when banaba is used properly under a physician's supervision. |
Drug Interactions: |
Taking banaba with these drugs may increase the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): |
Acarbose (Prandase, Precose) |
Acetohexamide |
Chlorpropamide (Diabinese, Novo-Propamide) |
Gliclazide (Diamicron, Novo-Gliclazide) |
Glimepiride (Amaryl) |
Glipizide (Glucotrol) |
Glipizide and Metformin (Metaglip) |
Gliquidone (Glurenorm, Beglynor) |
Glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase) |
Glyburide and Metformin (Glucovance) |
Insulin (Humulin, Novolin R) |
Metformin (Glucophage, Riomet) |
Miglitol (Glyset) |
Nateglinide (Starlix) |
Pioglitazone (Actos) |
Repaglinide (GlucoNorm, Prandin) |
Rosiglitazone (Avandia) |
Rosiglitazone and Metformin (Avandamet) |
Tolazamide (Tolinase) |
Tolbutamide (Apo-Tolbutamide, Tol-Tab) |
|
Supplement Interaction: |
May increase blood glucose-lowering effects and risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) when used with herbs and supplements that lower glucose levels, such as alpha-lipoic acid, chromium, Devil's Claw, Ginseng, and Psyllium. |
Bibliography: |
The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by George T. Grossberg, MD and Barry Fox, PhD Copyright © 2007 by Barry Fox PhD. pp.57-58 |