Queen's Crape Myrtle - Bungor raya

obmar · Site Admin Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 5697

Here is a "Top 5" finalist for "Most Beautiful Tree in the World" ......the striking and marvelous Queen's Crape Myrtle

Other common names include:

* Pride of India
* Queen's Flower
* Banaba

The intense lavender-pink flowers of Queen's Crape Myrtle are displayed in sprays 5-6 inches wide and 12-15 inches long blooming profusely during June, July and often also August ...great months to have this stunning flowering tree when most all other trees are finished blooming

obmar · Site Admin Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 5697

obmar · Site Admin Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 5697

Antidiabetic activity of a standardized extract (Glucosol) from Lagerstroemia speciosa leaves in Type II diabetics. A dose-dependence study.
Judy WV, Hari SP, Stogsdill WW, Judy JS, Naguib YM, Passwater R
SIBR, Inc., 4112 20th Street West, Bradenton, FL 34205, USA.

The antidiabetic activity of an extract from the leaves of Lagerstroemia speciosa standardized to 1% corosolic acid (Glucosol) has been demonstrated in a randomized clinical trial involving Type II diabetics (non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, NIDDM). Subjects received a daily oral dose of Glucosol and blood glucose levels were measured. Glucosol at daily dosages of 32 and 48mg for 2 weeks showed a significant reduction in the blood glucose levels. Glucosol in a soft gel capsule formulation showed a 30% decrease in blood glucose levels compared to a 20% drop seen with dry-powder filled hard gelatin capsule formulation (P<0.001), suggesting that the soft gel formulation has a better bioavailability than a dry-powder formulation.

PMID: 12787964 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

obmar · Site Admin Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 5697

Effects of malted barley extract and banaba extract on blood glucose levels in genetically diabetic mice.
Hong H, Jai Maeng W.

Department of Nutritional Resources Science, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. hhong58@hotmail.com

This study investigated the therapeutic effects of a malted barley extract (MBE) and of banaba extract on blood glucose, insulin, and other biochemical parameters in genetically diabetic mice (C57BL/KsJ(-) m (+/+) Lepr (db)). The mice were divided into three groups-control, MBE, and banaba-according to supplementation. Both MBE and banaba extracts were orally administered to the animals for 12 weeks at doses of 62.5 mg/kg of body weight and 0.8 mg/kg of body weight, respectively. The body and organ (liver and kidney) weights were not different among groups. Fasting blood glucose was significantly lower in the MBE group compared with the control (P < .05). Hemoglobin A1c content was significantly lower in the MBE group compared with either the control or banaba group (P < .05). There was no significant difference in the serum insulin level among groups. The glucose-6-phosphatase activity in kidney was significantly lower in both the MBE and banaba groups compared with the control group (P < .05), but there was no significant difference between the MBE and banaba groups. Therefore, the results of this study demonstrate that MBE alleviates many of the symptoms of diabetes in genetically obese mice and may offer promise as a therapeutic supplement for the normalization of blood glucose levels in humans with hyperglycemia and have beneficial effects in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

PMID: 15671695 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Radiate_Truth · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 1056

My mother-in-law used to have several in her back yard. She owned 10 acres of land, a two story home with small apartment over a two car garage. She got to old to do it herself. Every summer, once a week (Saturday or Sunday) I used to mow the grass with a riding lawn mower and take care of her yard. When she died, her daughter got "power of attorney" over her estate, sold the land and home. I live in an apartment now, one thing I miss the most is having a yard with flowers I can enjoy, work and take care of.

The flowering on my mother-in-law's crape myrtle weren't as big as in your images, but still pretty...

Thank you for the wonderful memories!!!

Radiate_Truth · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 1056

What does the crape myrtle have to do with diabetes???

obmar · Site Admin Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 5697

So says the researchers of today....