Recently, there has been, in some newspapers, an advertisement of a product which helps “get rid of uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts” formulated from Crinum latifolium L., but this advertisement was featured under name, prestige, and research work of Doctor - Pharmacist Nguyen Thi Ngoc Tram – the author of the scientific research work who has successfully studied and formulated Crila® which was honorably awarded Vietnam Excellent Medicine 2014 prize by the Ministry of Health. This ambiguity not only affects prestige of the scientist who has taken great pains with her research on bioactive substances of Crinum latifolium L. var. crilae Tram & Khanh, but more importantly causes misunderstanding that will affect significantly the interests of consumers.
“Get the wrong sow by the ear”
On May 18th 2015 Doctor - Pharmacist Nguyen Thi Ngoc Tram read an advertisement in a newspaper saying about the effects of Crinum latifolium L. on uterine fibroids. Such advertisement was also featured in other newspapers published from May 13th 2015 to May 20th 2015. Notetakingly, the writer featured the content of this advertisement with Dr. Tram’s research work, cautions, product name and image of the medicinal plant, but actually none of which was Dr. Tram’s research.
Dr. Tram affirmed: “The medicinal plant and product featured in such advertisement of some newspapers from May 13th, 2015 to May 20th, 2015 do not belong to my scientific research work”.
After detecting the false citation of her research results, Dr. Tram has contacted the newspaper agencies to request a stop of publishing such advertisement.
Lots of false information need to be corrected
According to Dr. Tram, the first fault is that the image of Crinum latifolium L. plant in the advertisement of some newspapers is not the medicinal herb studied by her. “Crinum latifolium L. plant which I have researched since 1990 is a novel variety of Crinum latifolium L. species in Vietnam with its scientific name Crinum latifolium L. var. crilae Tram & Khanh. I have detected this medicinal herb in nature, researched, domesticated and registered copyright for it. Crinum latifolium L. var. crilae Tram & Khanh is used as raw materials to produce Crila® capsules for treatment of uterine fibroids and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)”. Dr. Tram was honorably awarded Kovalevskaia prize in 2006, the state award in science and technology in 2010 for her research work on Crinum latifolium L.”
The second fault, the writer embedded information in the advertisement to advertise their product, but it is so ambiguous and easy to make comsumers misunderstand that Dr. Tram’s products are combined with some other compositions. “I surely affirm that Crila® studied by me has only one composition of leaves from Crinum latifolium L. var. crilae Tram & Khanh which is a novel variety of Vietnamese Crinum latifolium L. species, without combination with any other compositions. The combination of Crinum latifolium L. with other plants requires careful research. Crinum latifolium L. can not be combined with other medicinal plants because such combination will make Crinum latifolium L. plant lose its treatment effects and create toxic substances to body. In addition, Prof. Dr. Pham Thanh Ky wrote in the Capital Security Newspaper dated May 21st, 2013: “Not every combination of various drugs will yield a good product. The combination of different herbal materials must be studied and proved specifically on what basic it is conducted and what the experimental result is. Not every combination of different drugs will produce good products”.
The third fault, the advertisement reads “Dr. Tram warns that only SOME varieties of Crinum latifolium L. species have treatment effects, so it is necessary to distinguish ALL varieties of this species. Nowadays, many people who heard by word of mouth about the effects of Crinum latifolium L. plant went to pick up leaves without clear origin for use, which can lead to a fatal consequence…” Dr. Tram affirmed “I completely haven’t told such things! In interviews with the newspapers or answering patient’s questions, etc. I always share in my caution part that “Currently in Vietnam there are 6 (SIX) broadleaf crinums which are as LIKE as Crinum latifolium L. var. crilae Tram and Khanh often called Crinum latifolium L.” If we choose wrong materials, it will not only lead to inefficient use and unefficacious treatment but also affect liver, kidney and other body’s functions”.
“Through this, in order to ensure prestige for the research work of Dr. Tram and avoid misunderstanding of people that other products with composition of Crinum latifolium L. available on the market are also studied by Dr. Tram as it just happened and will happen in the future, especially to ensure safety for patients, Dr. Tram affirmed once again “Currently only Thien Duoc Co., Ltd as a science and technology enterprise has the right to use the results of my research work for their products”.
According to Dr. Tram, the advertisement with such equivocal content in the latest newspapers citing her research results on Crinum latifolium L. as a basis to prove that their products have treatment effects on uterine fibroids is completely incorrect. This equivocal advertisement will affect the scientist’s prestige, and more seriously consumers’ health.
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