Why is it named “Royal Virgin” (Crinum latifolium L)?

Since 1990, this plant (called “Royal Virgin” in folklore) has been rumored to have the ability to cure cancer. According to Prof. Do Tat Loi’s writing in the book “Vietnamese Medicinal Plants and Remedies” by Medical Publishing House in 2003 on page 511, “The plant is named “Royal Virgin” because it was used to treat virgins who were brought to royal palace but couldn’t attract kings’ attention, so that, they were likely to suffer some gynaecological diseases and its scientific name is Crinum latifolium L. However, affirming whether Vietnamese “Royal Virgin” is correct Crinum latifolium L. identified by Mr. Linné needs to be studied and compared the genome (DNA) of Vietnamese “Royal Virgin” with the genome of Crinum latifolium L. identified by Linné and stored in the world gene bank.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Tram has studied the genetic polymorphism of Crinum latifolium L. types (7 types) and found distinct genetic characteristics of Vietnamese “Royal Virgin” (Crinum latifolium L.), which has been used as raw materials to produce Crila capsule. She was granted the copyright and registration number 335/2008/QTG. From this research work, the genome of Vietnamese Crinum latifolium L. has been discovered, which is a new variety found in 1990. Therefore, it was not until 1993 that Prof. Do Tat Loi was the first person writing about it in Popular Science Newspaper. After that, some scientific literature about Vietnamese Crinum latifolium L. has also been published in journals of science in Vietnam and foreign countries about its chemical composition as well as pharmacological effects. What about researching to identify whether Vietnamese “Royal Virgin” is Crinum latifolium L. defined by the botanist Linné? To confirm this, Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Tram sent the genome of Vietnamese Crinum latifolium L. to the US Genetics Institute to compare with Crinum latifolium L. defined by Mr. Linné. Crinum latifolium L. is still unknown, soon there will certainly be a definite answer based on genetic comparative research of this medicinal plant.
Description: “Royal Virgin” plant (its scientific name as Crinum latifolium L.), belonging to Amaryllidaceae family, is a herbaceous species with bulb-like body (diameter 10-15 cm). Its sheaths face each other forming pseudo-body with length of 10- 15 cm. Its leaves are thin, linear, 80-100 cm long, and 3-8 cm wide with wavy margins and parallel veins. The peduncle is 30-60 cm long, carrying 6-18 flowers arranged in an umbel. The petals are white dotted with red and purple. From mother bulbs, many baby bulbs can be easily separated to plant.
Crinum latifolium L. is thought to grow only in Thailand and Cambodia, but actually, it has long existed in our country.
In terms of shape, Crinum latifolium L. has very similar appearance to white-flower Crinum plant, Crinoideae, etc. Dried leaves of Crinum latifolium L., Crinoideae, and white-flower Crinum plant are exactly alike in flavor (smell like tobacco), color (light yellow), size, length, and breadth of leaves...
Confusion is sometimes very dangerous. It cannot help the treatment, even can harm users’ health because the chemical composition of other Crinum plants have toxics affecting liver and kidneys.
Pharmacological effects.
Alkaloids extracted from Crinum latifolium L. leaves have treatment efficacy for BPH and uterine fibroids (also known as uterine smooth muscle fibroids). The research work of Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Tram and her colleagues in Vietnam and foreign countries as Prof. Do Tat Loi, Dr. in science D. Fuchs of the Institute of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry about substances against cancer and AIDS (Austria), Prof. Acad. Simeon Popov, E. Zvetkova (Bulgaria), studied to extract and identify the chemical composition of alkaloids in Crinum latifolium L. After over 15 years, the research work on this valuable medicinal plant with national-level projects and ministry-level subjects was highly evaluated by the Council of sciences. Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Tram created Crila - the first capsule in the world for uterine fibroids from a Vietnamese medicinal herb and was granted the copyright.
To comply the policy of the Ministry of Health on good combination between treatment and prevention, Dr. Tram has researched and transferred technology to Thien Duoc Co., Ltd for the production of two supplements, Crilin and Crinum latifolium L. tea.
Treatment efficacy of the medicine from Crinum latifolium L. and related products (Crila)
To ensure patient’s safety, medicaments have to be undergone clinical trials under Regulation No. 371 of the Ministry of Health through 3 stages at 3 hospitals before they are allowed for nationwide circulation. Crila capsule was undergone clinical trials on thousands of patients at 3 hospitals: Vietnam Central Institute of Gerontology, National Hospital of Traditional Medicine, Ho Chi Minh Hospital Traditional Medicine, National Maternity Hospital, Tu Du Maternity Hospital. Results from clinical trials showed that its treatment efficacy for patients with uterine fibroids is 79.5% and with BPH is 89.18%. Crila has been evaluated to have high safety, not to affect liver, kidneys, and other body functions. However, Crila has unwanted effects for some patients such as dyspepsia, but it will disappear a few days later when patients are accustomed to the medicine.
As to the treatment efficacy on prostatic fibroids benign prostatic hyperplasia, we will mention it in the next edition with a special subject for men.
As to the treatment for uterine fibroids, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vuong Tien Hoa (National Maternity Hospital) monitored test results on humans at 3 hospitals: Ho Chi Minh Traditional Medicine Hospital, National Maternity Hospital, Tu Du Maternity Hospital.
Results: Treatment efficacy of Crila on uterine fibroids is 79.5%.
Conclusion at the acceptance session for ministry-level scientific subjects: “Evaluation of efficacy and drug acceptability of Crila for the treatment of uterine fibroids”, the subject head and research group affirmed:

1) The medicine has treatment efficacy for uterine fibroids (especially size under 6 cm) with the result of 79,5%.

2) The medicine has high safety, no side effects, and does not affect liver, kidneys, and other body vital functions.

Currently, the rumor in folk of this valuable medicinal plant has been spread all over the country; some patients arbitrarily take other Crinum plants, looking like Crinum latifolium L. for decoction. This is worth concerning, because other plants not studied have some toxics and other substances affecting their fertility. Presently, the research team of Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Tram are studying a plant belonging to Crinum genus like Crinum latifolium L. brought to Vietnam by some soldiers having worked in Cambodia. It can limit fertility, but this is just a supposition, awaiting test result for final confirmation. Some people fear that using Crinum latifolium L. will prevent them from pregnancy. If using the products from correct Crinum latifolium L., it will not affect woman's fertility but help to regulate blood well for women, more easily to get pregnant. Dr. Tram – Director of Thien Duoc Co., Ltd said, “People often hand down experiences to others to decoct Crinum latifolium L. fresh leaves to drink instead of water to prevent cancer. This is very dangerous because these plants are not identified as correct Crinum latifolium L.; Moreover, Crinum latifolium L. planted in flowerpot doesn’t have active substances treating tumor disease.”
Through the discussion with Dr. Tram – the inventor of Crila capsule, who has studied Crinum latifolium L. since 1990 until now and was awarded the 2006 Kovalevskaya prize, people should use products from Crinum latifolium L., which is studied and domesticated in plantation with stable bioactivities under GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) to have treatment efficacy and safety for patients. Currently, tissue-cultured Crinum latifolium L. differs from one growing naturally in treatment efficacy, because tissue-cultured plant just has similar biological morphology to its mother plant, but different chemical composition. Especially, the group of alkaloids and flavonoids that can inhibit tumor cell growth may no longer exist in tissue-cultured plant or still may but at very low content.
To ensure patients’ safety, Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Tram also suggests our newspaper office reminding patients that now Vietnam has 12 plants in Crinum genus, including white Crinum with toxicity affecting liver, kidney, and another Crinum plant derived from Cambodia that can cause infertility. Even though that is just a rumor, we should be careful. A few years later, there will be results to confirm this information accurately.
Currently, Crinum latifolium L. is studied, formulated into high-quality products, so when taking this medicine, users should buy in reliable drugstores and manufacturers. They should not take medicine carelessly, otherwise not only their disease is not cured, but also they may spend money on a quack doctor.

Physician Hoang Duy Tan