 |
![Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa [Lin] Pers.)](../images/about_subhead.gif)
Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa (Lin) Pers.) is a lythraceous tree.
It has pale purple flowers and the leaves are 20-30 cm in diameter.
It is widely distributed from the Philippines, southern part of China
to Australia.
Banaba leaves from the Philippines are so thick that it is said
to have the best quality. In the Philippines, it has been drunk as
tea for more than 1,000 years because it is believed to be effective
on diabetes, obesity, constipation and skin diseases. In the country,
it is also used for diabetes treatment as a medical herb tea at medical
institutions and designated as a medical plant.
 Banaba
has natural mineral such as magnesium and zinc, which help metabolism
of sugar. It also contains fibers
15 times
as many as sweet potatoes, active principle such as tannin, and corosolic
acid,
which works like insulin. Also in Japan, banaba is widely noticed
in recent years as a diet material effective in preventing life-style
related diseases and diabetes.
|
|
We are currently looking for volunteers to
participate in our clinical research for banaba. Volunteers must
reside within Kansai or Kanto regions in Japan. Please contact
our office at 0773-25-4411 for more information.
|
|
