After decades of investing in research, recently Crila capsule produced by Thien Duoc Co., Ltd has had another “mission” - “Support the treatment of cancer patients”. Therefore, can every products manufactured from Crinum latifolium L. or its fresh leaves support cancer treatment? To answer this question, we had a discussion with Pharmacist – Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Tram, who directed a mission of international cooperation on science and technology under the Protocol between Vietnam and Bulgaria, “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.”
Since 2004 until now, consumers have been accustomed to using Crila formulated from alkaloids extracted from Crinum latifolium L. leaves for the treatment of uterine fibroids and prostatic fibroids (benign prostatic hyperplasia). Recently, we have known about Crila’s capability of supporting cancer treatment. It’s really good news for unfortunate patients with cancer. So can you share that new information with readers?
On July 31, 2009 based on the Decision No. 1280/QĐ-BKCN, the international cooperation mission on science and technology under the Protocol between Vietnam and Bulgaria has been accepted by the Council of Science and Technology and evaluated the ability to support cancer treatment of Crila and alkaloid fractions (C1, C2, C3) and flavonoid fraction (H1) extracted from Crinum latifolium L. leaves as following information:
Evaluation of the President of the Council of Sciences, Prof. Dr. Pham Thanh Ky “The findings hold scientific and practical value, opening up a research prospect of later stage to use the medicine to support cancer treatment.”
Evaluation of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Van Quy “Research results are encouraging, especially the effect in enhancing body’s immune system and preventing the development of cancer cells”.
Evaluation of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Thu Anh – “This subject has really high scientific and practical significances, which was implemented meticulously and seriously with high quality and reliability. It has developed extraction process, chemical structures of some standard flavonoid and alkaloid fractions, identified fractions having biological effects, and tested those effects under national and international standards in vivo and in vitro”
Evaluation of the Council of Science and Technology at national level, based on the experiments conducted at the Bulgarian Academy of Science and the University of Innsbruck, Austria in vitro and in vivo, “ Crila capsule can restore and stimulate T-lymphocyte cell groups in both peripheral blood and spleen on quantity and production, especially IL2, increase myeloid line (neutrophyl granulocytes and acidophilus leukocytes), and research values back to biological values (P>0.05). Crila capsule and H1 fraction can cause cell division like Con-A. Crila capsule and C1, C2, C3, H1 fractions can enhance immunoactivity indicated by increasing the rate of Kynurenine/tryptophan and the production of neopterin in the sample of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs). Crila can intensify hematopoiesis, especially proliferate early common lymphoid progenitor in bone marrow. Antioxidant effect: total alkaloid – C is raw materials for producing Crila capsule, which can surround free radicals with high antioxidating activity. Crila has toxicity effect on cancer cell lines in vitro (lung cancer, liver cancer, heart membrance cancer and Graffi myeloma cancer). In vivo, Crila retards tumor growth (reduction in tumor size) of fibro sarcoma cancer-bearing Wistar rats chemically induced with 20-methylcholanthrene, prolong their survival time more than non-treated group (50-73 days/25-45 days), and reduce the mortality rate in Crila-treated group. In vivo, Crila retards the growth of Graffi myeloid cancer transplanted to Golden Syrian hamsters”
Thus, apart from the effect in treating uterine fibroids, can Crila capsule - extracted from Crinum latifolium L. leaves also support cancer treatment?
I must say this is the great pleasure of my colleagues and me over a long plying time of sticking with this valuable medicinal plant. Certainly, there will be a herbal medicine supporting cancer treatment. However, according to the Ministry of Health’s regulation, if Crila wants to become a medicine treating and supporting cancer treatment, it should be undergone clinical trials in three stages 1, 2, 3 at some prestigious large hospitals assigned by the Ministry of Health, evaluated its therapeutic effect of treating and supporting cancer treatment.
Currently, cancer patients undergone radiation, chemotherapy or surgery should use Crilin capsule and Crinum latifolium L. tea bag produced by Thien Duoc Company because these products are manufactured from clean Crinum latifolium L. grown under GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) in Long Thanh District - Dong Nai province, which have bioactive substances inhibiting the growth of tumor cells (including benign and malignant tumors). Crilin capsule supplement is manufactured from the extract of C1, C2, C3 and H1 fractions, so this product is recognized to have the ability to support cancer treatment based on scientific research from international cooperation mission on science and technology under the protocol between Vietnam and Bulgaria with the participation of University of Innsbruck (Austria).
Therefore, every product manufactured from Crinum latifolium L. or fresh leaves can support cancer treatment?
A product considered as a medicine, manufactured from Vietnamese Crinum latifolium L., supporting treatment for unfortunate cancer patients has to be produced from the bioactive substances which can prevent the growth of tumor cells and stimulate activity and development of T-lymphocytes. These active substances are extracted under the process which has been studied and recognized by the Council of Science and Technology. CRILA, Crilin and Crinum latifolium L. teabag – products by Thien Duoc Co., Ltd are manufactured from clean Crinum latifolium L. through DNA test, which is cultivated under GAP criterion on stable plantation, studied and determined on harvesting season and age, moreover, with standard water source, natural manure and pheromone as pesticides.
Supplements from medicinal herbs without origin on the market can be confusing with Crinoideae, white Crinum plant and a variety of other Crinum plants looking like correct Crinum latifolium L. These plants cause toxicity to liver, kidneys endangering patients’ lives. Therefore, Thien Duoc built their own plantation in southern coastal areas. Its dried leaves or fresh leaves have similar biological effects, but the important thing is that they have to be correct Crinum latifolium L. leaves, not other Crinum plants in Vietnam.
Spending 15 years on research and millions of dollars on investment from cultivation, manufacturing to promotion, advertising for market penetration, however, after a short time, Crila capsule of Thien Duoc Co., Ltd had some more copies, mostly supplements. What do you think about this issue?
Crila capsule produced by Thien Duoc Company and allowed for nationwide circulation by the Ministry of Health with registration number V1167-H12-10 under Decision No. 92/QĐ-QLD on April 28, 2009 is the medicine for the treatment of prostatic fibroids and uterine fibroids. Other supplements on the market are produced by some manufacturers and named similarly to my products, which can confuse consumers. In fact, there have recently been some druggists telling patients that they are also products researched by Dr. Tram but it is not true. This makes me very worried about patients’ health.
As I know, Vietnamese Food Safety and Hygiene Administration defines that supplements must be labeled “This product is not a medicine and not intended to replace therapeutic drugs”. Any products not abiding by this regulation are revoked by Vietnamese Food Safety and Hygiene Administration. However, more importantly, patients and consumers should think carefully before taking medicines or supplements and read manual for not misunderstanding. Moreover, patients need to know that when having diseases, they must take medicine, supplements only can prevent disease.
Crila capsule by TDC is a medicine for benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostatic fibroids) and two supplements, Crilin capsule and Crinum latifolium L. tea bag (these are products from my research and their technology is transferred to Thien Duoc company for manufacturing) to prevent and support treatment for patients after surgery of tumors, and support treatment of ovarian cysts, breast tumors, liver tumors, etc.
If you need any advice on Crinum latifolium L. and products extracted and manufactured based on researches of mine and my colleagues in Vietnam and foreign countries, you can contact me at this phone number: 08.5404 5327.
Thank you for this conversation. At the advent of New Year, we wish you and your family a New Year full of joy and happiness.
Reported by DONG HUONG