Folium Crini asiatici
Aliases：Wannianqing; Biandan Ye; Yujiao; Shuixiaocao; Qundai Cao; Shuijiao; Yujinye; Yinshuijiao; Haidaiqi; Yaodaiqi; Zhanshejian; Polongdao; Jinwujian; Yudaifeng; Haijiao; Jiujincao; Zhulanye; Baihua Shisuan; Wenshulan (Chinese Crinum).
Leaf of Chinese Crinum is the leaf of Crinum asiaticum L. var. sinicum (Roxb. ex Herb.) Baker, a plant in the family Amaryllidaceae. It often grows in coastal areas or on sandy riverbanks. It is a commonly used folk medicine for external application and is recorded in herbal works such as Essential Materia Medica for Raw Herbs, Illustrated Catalogue of Plants, Classified Materia Medica, National Compendium of Chinese Herbal Medicine, and Chinese Materia Medica.
Efficacy & Actions
Clears Heat and removes toxin; dissipates Blood stasis and relieves pain; activates Blood circulation and disperses stasis; reduces swelling and relieves pain.
Indications
Heat sores and toxic swellings; carbuncles, furuncles, and toxic swellings; lymphadenitis; pharyngitis and sore throat; headache and wind-type headache; arthralgia, pain, and numbness; rheumatic joint pain; traumatic swelling with blood stasis and traumatic injuries; fractures; venomous snake bites; skin ulcers; acute mastitis and breast cancer.
Modern Pharmacology
Antitumor effect: Chinese Crinum possesses anticancer activity and is commonly used in compound formulas as an adjunctive treatment for breast cancer and other tumors. Anti-inflammatory effect: Among the 42 Amaryllidaceae alkaloids isolated from the leaves of Chinese Crinum (including 11 previously undescribed compounds, crinasiaticines C–M), multiple compounds exhibited significant inhibitory activity against nitric oxide (NO) production. The mechanism involves the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway and the release of inflammatory mediators. Antibacterial and antiviral effects: Extracts of Chinese Crinum possess antibacterial and antiviral activities. They are used in folk medicine to treat skin diseases caused by herpes viruses. Hypotensive effect: Leaf extracts of Chinese Crinum exhibit hypotensive activity. Cholinergic-like effect: Tazettine exhibits cholinergic-like effects on frog heart, cat blood pressure, and guinea pig small intestine preparations. In neuromuscular preparations, it increases the amplitude of muscle contractions induced by nerve stimulation. However, these effects are weaker than those of galantamine. Antifertility effect: Chinese Crinum exhibits antifertility activity. Cytotoxic and protein synthesis-inhibiting effects: Alkaloids from Chinese Crinum exhibit cytotoxic activity and can inhibit protein synthesis.
Ingredients
The leaves and bulbs of Chinese Crinum mainly contain the following active constituents: Alkaloids: lycorine, tazettine, crinine, crinasidine, powelline, crinamidine, crinamine, pratorimine, and others. In recent years, 42 Amaryllidaceae alkaloids have been isolated from the leaves, including 11 previously undescribed compounds such as crinasiaticines C–M. Flavonoids: 4′-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavone, among others. Others: Organic acids, coumarins, terpenoids, and other constituents are also present.
Usage & Dosage
Oral use: Decocted in water, 3–10 g; or prepared as a powder. Fresh material: 1–3 qian (3–9 g). External use: Appropriate amount. Pounded and applied topically; squeezed to obtain the juice and applied topically; stir-fried until hot and applied as a hot compress; or decocted in water for washing.
Contraindications
Oral administration should be used with caution. Contraindicated in cold-type abscess (Guangxi Materia Medica).
Selected Formulas
For wind-headache (Guangxi Medicinal Plant Illustrated Handbook) Take 1 leaf of Luoqundai (Crinum asiaticum), soften over fire, and wrap around the head while hot. For low back pain (Hunan Materia Medica) Take 1 fresh leaf of Wenshulan (Crinum asiaticum), place in boiling water for about 2 minutes, remove, and bind around the waist. For soreness and pain of the joints of hands and feet (Quanzhou Bencao) Take fresh Wenshulan leaves, chop and mix with sesame oil. Burn spring straw to heat, and when it cools to a warm temperature, apply to the affected area. Change once daily. For sprain with tendon injury, blood stasis, swelling, and pain (Fujian Folk Herbal Medicine) Take fresh Wenshulan leaves, stir-fry in an iron pan until soft, then quench with red wine. While slightly warm, wrap around the injured swollen area. Change once daily. For falls, injuries, and fractures (Guizhou Herbal Medicine) Take 120g of fresh Biandan leaves, 60g each of Shuidonggua and Yuanma root. Crush together and wrap around the affected area. For closed fractures (Wanxian Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take appropriate amounts of Wenshulan, Caoxuejie, Ruxiang (Frankincense), Moyao (Myrrh), and Yajiaoai, add a little flour and 1 chick (defeathered and eviscerated). Crush together, stir-fry with wine until hot, and wrap externally around the affected area. For skin ulcers (Hunan Materia Medica) Crush Wenshulan leaves to extract juice and apply to the affected area. For lymphadenitis (Wuzhou Regional Chinese Herbal Medicine) Take appropriate amounts of Luoqundai, Laoshugua, Dusan, and Lishu. Crush together and apply to the affected area. For lumbar pain due to sudden sprain or contusion (Zengbu Yanfang Xinbian, Vol. 5, Sanxian San) Take equal parts of Luoqundai leaves, fir bark, and Sophora bark. It has the effects of clearing heat, removing stasis, invigorating blood, and relieving pain. For sore throat (Hunan Materia Medica) Take 1-3 qian of Luoqundai root, decoct in water and drink.
Daily Consumption
Leaf of Chinese Crinum is a medicinal material for external use. The entire plant is toxic and is generally not used as a daily food. In folk practice, when only the bulb is used medicinally, it is occasionally stewed with pig lung for consumption (to clear the Lungs, resolve Phlegm, and relieve cough), but it should be used with caution under the guidance of a physician.
Medicinal Parts
Leaf (Leaf of Chinese Crinum); the bulb and root are also used medicinally (Bulb and Root of Chinese Crinum).
Selection & Storage
Dried material should be stored in a dry, well-ventilated place. Protect from moisture and insect damage. Fresh material should be used promptly or refrigerated for short-term storage.
