Botany
Bulbs are subglobose,
up to 10 cm diameter. Leaves are oblong-linear, 30-60 cm long, 2-7
cm wide. Scape, stout and purplish, is inserted on neck of the bulb
and as long as the leaves. The stem from the bulb is cylindrical,
hollow, the tip bearing 2 to 4 stalked, nodding, red or or orange
funnel-shaped flowers, aboout 8-10 cm diameter. The cultivated hybrid
forms give a variety of colors, some with white stripes running from
the center of red segments.
Distribution
Cultivated for ornamental
purposes.
Parts
used and preparation
Leaves and bulbs.
Constituents
and properties
Considered anticancer,
antiviral, immune stimulant.
Bulbs considered rubifacient.
Uses
Folkloric
- Bulbs, extremely acrid,
when roasted, used as a rubefacient for rheumatism.
- Juice of leaves used for earaches.
- Crushed and toasted bulbs used for piles and abscesses to hasten
suppuration.
- In Vietnam and
Cambodia, used in treatment
of prostate and ovarian cancer. Also for prostatitis, uterine fibroids.
- In Ayurveda, used
for piles, fever and earaches.
Studies
• Immunomodulatory: Study
showed extract of C latifolium slightly enhanced neopterin production
in unstimulated peripheral mononuclear cells with an effective reduction
of neopterin formation in stimulated cells.
• T-Lymphocyte
Activating:
A novel in vitro and in vivo T-lymphocyte activating factor in Crinum
latifolium (L.) aqueous extracts. The study suggests potential use
of C. latifolium for treatment of cases of immunodeficiency as cancer, leukemia and
AIDS.
• Mast Cell Stabilizing:
Mast cell stabilizing effect of glucan A and phosphatidyllycorine
isolated from Crinum latifolium – Effect of glucan A and phosphatidyllycorine
from CL in vitro produced significant protection against mass cell
degranulation as well as to sensitized mast cells challenged with
a horse serum antigen. In vivo, it also provided protedtion against
degranulation of mast cells. Results support is use in Ayurvedic medicine
in the treatment of allergic disorders.
• Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy:
A study in the International Hospital in Vietnam using extract cycles
of 21 days-on/7 days-off reported a 92.6 % benefit measured by prostate
size and clinical urologic evaluation.
• Anti-Viral:
A monocot mannose-binding amaryllidaceae lectin from the bulbs of
CL was found to be non-toxic towards African green monkey kidney epithelial
cells and exhibited a significant antiviral potential against a strain
of vaccinia virus in vitro.
• Anti-Tumor:
A study on cold-hot aqueous extracts from Vietnamese CL showed inhibition
of carcinogenesis in rats probably due to the influence of immunomodulating
and anti-tumour plant alkaloids and other biologically active components
in the plant decoctions.
• NF-kB Inhibitory Activity:
87 methanol extracts fof Vietnamese oriental medicine were screened for NF-kB inhibitory activity. Seven of the extracts, including C. latifolium showed strong to moderate inhibitory activity.
• Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy: Study was done of softgel transformed from the dry glue of Crinum latifolium alkaloid for therapeutic effect in benign prostatic hypertrophy. Results concluded (1) softgels of CL are effective for treatment of BPH, and (2) the drug is safe, with little side effects.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
