Accomplishing the "mission” treating BPH in men and uterine fibroids in women, recently, Crila capsule extracted from prestigious medicinal plant (Crinum latifolium L.) was tested and accepted its antitumor ability at first step by the Council of Science and Technology at national level - the Ministry of Science and Technology. This medicinal plant has brought a new hope for patients with incurable disease: cancer.
Pharmacist - Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Tram - project manager - Director of Thien Duoc Co., Ltd (where Crila was studied and manufactured) has given us a discussion around this issue.
Can you tell us what is the main research content of this project?
The name of the subject is “Cooperative research of stimulation of the immune system against cancer of alkaloid and flavonoid fractions from Vietnamese Crinum latifolium L. used as raw materials to produce Vietnamese drugs supporting cancer treatment” - This is a project of international cooperation protocol between Vietnam and Bulgaria, 1 out of 46 missions of international cooperation in scientific and technological research in the protocol starting in 2007 of the Government.
After 2 years, we have done and accomplished tasks. Compared with the proposal approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology, we have completed two objectives: extracting alkaloid and flavonoid fractions from Crinum latifolium L. leaves and evaluating the ability to stimulate the immune system against cancer of alkaloid fractions (C1, C2, C3) and flavonoid fractions (H1).
How is the research process and result?
To determine the chemical composition of C1 and H1 fractions, we used chromatographic methods (gas chromatography/spectral, thin layer chromatography (TLC), column chromatography and spectroscopic methods (IR, EIMS and C13 - NMR, 1H - NMR, HSQC, HMBC).
We have evaluated the biological effects of the C1, C2, C3 and H1 fractions and proven immunomodulatory effect in vitro and in vivo, antioxidant effect and enhanced immunostimulative activity against tumors indirectly or directly cytotoxic activity on experimental cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo.
Research results showed Crila’s effects are: Restore and enhance T-lymphocyte function in both peripheral blood and spleen, increase bone marrow leukocytes (neutrophil granulocytes and acidophil leukocytes). These research values are returned to biological value (P > 0.05). Crila and H1 fraction have the effect causing cell division like Con-A. Crila and immunostimulative C1, C2, C3, H1 fractions are indicated by increasing proportion of Kynurenine/tryptophan and neopterin production in human peripherial blood mononuclear cell samples in culture. Crila increases hematopoiesis and especially proliferates early common lymphoid progenitors in bone marrow culture. Antioxidant effect: C fraction is material to produce Crila capsule having the effect surrounding free radicals and having highly antioxidic activity. Crila has cytotoxic activity to cultured cancer cell lines in vitro (lung, liver, heart, pericardium and Graffi myeloid cancer). In vivo, Crila can retard the tumor growth of white rats of Wistar strain with fibrosarcoma induced with 20-methylcholanthrene (tumor size is smaller), prolong their survival time compared with control group which is not treated with Crila (50-73 days/25-45 days), and reduce mortality rate in group treated with Crila. In vivo, Crila has slowed the growth of Graffi myeloid cancer cells transplanted in hamsters of Golden Syrian strain.
Are the initial results encouraging and great hope for cancer patients?
This is a great turning point for me, as well as my Vietnamese and foreign colleagues having joined in studying Vietnamese Crinum latifolium L. from 1990 until now. Research results have shown the alkaloid and flavonoid fractions extracted from Vietnamese Crinum latifolium L. leaves can be used as raw materials producing drugs that support treating lung cancer, liver cancer and other kinds of cancer. To get a new medicine to treat cancer from a Vietnamese herb - Crinum latifolium L. - a valuable medicinal plant, we have to go through a critical phase that is taking clinical trials on patients as prescribed by the Ministry of Health.
Therefore, according to this result, can the disease be cured if cancer patients use fresh leaves, or buy products made from Crinum latifolium L.?
This is completely wrong. It is not true that the disease can be cured if using Crinum latifolium L. and that any products from Crinum latifolium L. can cure the disease. Crila product studied by us is extracted from Crinum latifolium L. leaves, produced from clean materials which are cultivated carefully and scientifically. Crila is one of three products that are licensed by the Ministry of Health to be therapeutic drug, and while all other products from Crinum latifolium L. materials are just supplements. Supplements cannot cure disease.
It is a must to buy Crinum latifolium L. dried leaves having clear origin. Otherwise, users will spend money on a quack doctor and only get worse and incur unfortunate consequences because in Vietnam there are many other Crinum species looking like Crinum latifolium L. such as Crinoideae, white Crinum and so on. Dried leaves of Crinum latifolium L., Crinoideae, and white Crinum are totally the same in flavor (smell like cigarettes scent), color (pale yellow), length, and width of leaf and so on. That makes the distinction between them by the naked eye very difficult. They should be distinguished with genetic testing (DNA). Purchasing leaves that are floating on the market is very dangerous because white Crinum and Crinoideae are toxic to liver, kidneys, and other body’s functions.
Many people transmit their experiences to others to take home fresh leaves of Crinum latifolium L., boil them, and drink the decoction instead of water to prevent cancer. This deed is very dangerous because the seedlings have not been properly identified whether they are Crinum latifolium L. leaves or not. If you need any advice on Crinum latifolium L. and products extracted and formulated based on the research works of me and my Vietnamese and foreign colleagues, contact me at the number 08.54045327.
Thank you for this conversation, wish you success in the future!
(By DONG HUONG)
Dr. Tram has achieved the goals and implemented fully the contents represented in the proposal. There was enough volume and kinds of products. The research results have scientific value and practical significance, opening up the prospect of a later study stage for using medicine as supporting cancer treatment.
Prof. Dr. Pham Thanh Ky
It is a project with highly scientific and practical significance. The project was carried out meticulously and seriously. The result is reliable and high quality. It has built the extraction process, the chemical structure of some extracts from alkaloid and flavonoid fractions, following specification. It has identified fractions having biological effects and tested those biological effects by experiments in vitro and in vivo in accordance with national and international criteria.
There will be a kind of medicine that can support cancer treatment and having drug initiative, stabilize the medicine prices, have capability of exporting to get foreign currency revenues, and create jobs for workers.
Assoc. prof. Dr. Phan Thi Thu Anh