Plants of the genus Crinum (Amaryllidaceae) are widely used in folk medicine in different tropical and subtropical regions around the world. The Indian species Crinum latifolium (L.) was traditionally used to treat rheumatism, fistula, tumors, earaches, rubefacient, tubercle and whitlow. In Vietnamese and Chinese traditional medicine Crinum latifolium preparations are used until nowadays because of their antiviral and antitumor properties.