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Banaba leaf

Banaba leaf suppliers and sourcing guide

Banaba leaf is the leaf of Lagerstroemia speciosa, a flowering tree of tropical South and Southeast Asia, with much commercial supply from the Philippines and India. Leaves are dried for tea and powder, or extracted, usually with ethanol, and standardized to corosolic acid, a triterpene acid measured by HPLC. Extracts at 1% to 20% or more corosolic acid are the main supplement form.

See suppliersWhat to ask for on the COA
Also known as
Lagerstroemia speciosa · banaba · queen's crape myrtle · pride of India
Facts checked
November 2026

Forms and grades of banaba leaf

Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.

  • Dried leaf and tea cut

    Whole or cut dried leaf for infusion.

  • Leaf powder

    Milled dried leaf, sold with or without a declared corosolic acid content.

  • Standardized extract

    Ethanol or water extract standardized to corosolic acid by HPLC, commonly 1%, 2.5%, 10% or 18%.

What to check on the COA

Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.

Identity (HPTLC)
Fingerprint against a Lagerstroemia speciosa leaf reference, including a check for leaves of Terminalia species that can be confused with it.
Corosolic acid assay (HPLC)
Corosolic acid by a named HPLC method, reported on the dried basis.
Residual solvents
For extracts made with ethanol or other solvents, residual solvent levels against USP <467> or the buyer's spec.
Heavy metals
Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury, usually by ICP-MS, checked against the buyer's limits and Prop 65 exposure targets where relevant.
Microbiology
Total plate count, yeast and mold, E. coli and Salmonella. Raw herb powders carry more microbial load than extracts and may be steam treated, which should be stated on the COA.
Loss on drying
Moisture against the spec, plus mesh size for powders.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Keep dried herb and powdered extracts sealed in lined drums or bags, away from heat, light and humidity. Dry extracts are hygroscopic and cake once exposed to air, so reseal opened containers promptly. Suppliers assign a shelf life or retest date, and the marker assay is usually repeated at retest before material is used past it.

Lots and expiry dates

Corosolic acid content varies with leaf maturity and origin, so check each lot against the spec. Record the supplier lot, assay result and retest date.

Regulatory status

Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.

  • USP's Herbal Medicines Compendium monograph for Lagerstroemia speciosa Leaf Powder defines it as the dried, powdered leaves containing not less than 0.2% corosolic acid on the dried basis, and names Terminalia cuneata as a potential confounding material.

    Source: hmc.usp.org (opens in a new tab)

This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.

Banaba leaf suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking banaba leaf suppliers now

Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.

Sell banaba leaf? Request a listing

Frequently asked questions

What forms of banaba leaf can brands buy?

Common forms include dried leaf and tea cut, leaf powder and standardized extract. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for banaba leaf include?

Expect identity (HPTLC), corosolic acid assay (HPLC), residual solvents, heavy metals, microbiology and loss on drying, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should banaba leaf be stored?

Keep dried herb and powdered extracts sealed in lined drums or bags, away from heat, light and humidity. Dry extracts are hygroscopic and cake once exposed to air, so reseal opened containers promptly. Suppliers assign a shelf life or retest date, and the marker assay is usually repeated at retest before material is used past it.

What is the regulatory status of banaba leaf?

USP's Herbal Medicines Compendium monograph for Lagerstroemia speciosa Leaf Powder defines it as the dried, powdered leaves containing not less than 0.2% corosolic acid on the dried basis, and names Terminalia cuneata as a potential confounding material.

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