| Botany
Bakong has large coated bulbs, 5 to
10 cm in diameters. Leaves are crowded at the apex, lanceolate, 90 to
150 cm long, 12 to 15 cm wide. The scape, arising from the axils of
old leaves, is erect, stout, and solid, about 1 meter high. The spathe
subtending the flowers is about 15 cm long. Flowers are fragrant, 20
to 40, each subtended by a thin, narrow bracteole. The perianth tube
is greening, about 1 cm long, the lobes spreading, white, linear, recurved
or revolute, about 8 cm long and 8 mm wide. Filaments are very slender,
free and purplish above. Frutis are subglobose, about 5 cm in diameter.
Distribution
Throughout the Philippines along sandy
seashores.
Sometimes planted inland.
Occasionally ornamental cultivation.
Parts utilized
Leaves and bulbs.
Properties
and constituents
Contains an emetic component,
an alkaloid, lycorine (1 to 1.8 percent) allied to emetine.
The bulbs have been reported to contain baconine.
Considered astringent due to the presence of considerable amounts of
tannin.
An ethanol extract study revealed a new phenolic compound from the bulbs
of Crinum asiaticum L. var sinicum.
Uses
Folkloric
Bulbs prepared as an ointment and
leaves used as an emollient.
In India, the leaves and
roots are emetic and diaphoretic, used as a substitute for ipecacuanha.
Warmed succulent leaves smeared with castor oil or bruised leaves mixed
with oil are used for whitlow and other inflammations at the ends of
toes and fingers.
Also used as fomentations on inflammed joints and sprains.
Juice of leaves, with a little salt, used for earaches and other ear
complaints.
Roots used for fevers lumbago, headaches and swellings.
In Malaysia, used as rheumatic
remedy and for local pain relief.
In Australia, aborigines use warm infusions of C asiaticum bulb to disinfect wounds.
In the Congo, used for leprosy.
Studies
• Anti-inflammatory:
The plant extract of Crinum asiaticum
was studied for antiinflammatory effects on carrageenan-induced
hind paw edema in mice. Results indicated active inflammatory compounds
in the chloroform fraction of the methanol extract with dose-dependent
results that support its use in traditional medicine.
• Prostatic Hypertrophy:
Model proved the leaf extract of Crinum asiaticum to be effective against
hypertrophy of prostate in rats.
• Mast Cell Effect:
Lycoriside, an acylglucosyloxy-alkaloid from Crinum asiaticum on albino
rats was studied for the mechanism of a dual response it elicited in
view of a concentration-dependent anti- or prelease-effect on mast cell
mediators.
• Crinumin: Study purified crinumin, a glycosylated serine protease with chymotrypsin-like activity from the latex of C asiaticum. Its varied activities make it applicable for the pharmaceutical and food industries.
• Central Inhibitory Activity / Sedative: Study of aqueous extract of Crinum giganteum in mice showed it contained biologically active principles with sedative activity.
• Anti-Inflammatory / Anti-Lymphocytic / Analgesic: Study of extract of C giganteum showed significant dose-dependent inhibition of pain and a significant effect on leucocyte count. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of tannins. Results showed CG bulb contains biologically active principles with potentials for treatment of inflammatory processes.
Availability
Cultivated.
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