Botanical Name: Cinchona Officinalis
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Cinchona
Species: C. officinalis
Popular Names: Peruvian Bark, Quinine Bark
Part Used: Quinine isolated from bark
Habitat: Cultivated in Nilgiri Hills
Description
Quinine is a genus of tropical evergreen trees and shrubs, with rather large laurel-like, entire, opposite leaves, and white or pink fragrant flowers arranged in clusters. Though its common name is quinine yet not all species of Cinchona can be used to produce quinine; in fact, many contain virtually no quinine at all. This herb is native to Amazon rainforest vegetation and is renowned for its numerous health and therapeutic benefits. It is particularly found in the eastern slopes of the Amazon area of the Andes. Apart from this, quinine is also found in the northern zone of the Andes, towards the eastern slopes of the central and western ranges. Because of its usefulness in curing diseases and ailments, the herb is now cultivated in many tropical areas, for commercial purposes.
Plant Chemicals
Aricine, caffeic acid, cinchofulvic acid, cincholic acid, cinchonain, cinchonidine, cinchonine, cinchophyllamine, cinchotannic acid, cinchotine, conquinamine, cuscamidine, cuscamine, cusconidine, cusconine, epicatechin, javanine, paricine, proanthocyanidins, quinacimine, quinamine, quinic acid, quinicine, quinine, quininidine, quinovic acid, quinovin, and sucirubine
Uses and Benefits of Quinine
- Quinine is an anti-fever agent and is used for the prevention and cure of malaria.
- Its bark is an important constituent in herbal medicines and is used as a tonic and a digestive stimulant for the cure of conditions like indigestion, gastro-intestinal disorders and also as an appetite- stimulant.
- Certain forms of folk medicine in the southern zone of America use the herb for curing different types of cancer, like breast cancer, liver cancer, mesenteric cancer and cancer of the spleen and other glands. Besides this, they also use it for the treatment of common cold, amoebic infections, dysentery, dyspepsia, diarrhoea, fever, lumbago, malaria, pneumonia, sciatica, varicose veins, hangovers and even typhoid.
- In the European herbal medicine systems, quinine bark is used as an anti-spasmodic, anti-malarial, anti-protozoal, a bitter tonic and as a fever reducer. It is also used for treating irregular heartbeats, anaemia, leg cramps and also as a bactericidal and an anaesthetic in some conditions.
- Many people use quinine as a good throat astringent and its powdered form is often used in tooth powders, because of its astringency.
- In general, the herb can be classified as an excellent analgesic, anaesthetic, anti-arrhythmic, anti-bacterial, anti-malarial, anti-microbial, anti-parasitic, anti-pyretic, anti-septic, anti-spasmodic, anti-viral, astringent, bactericide, cytotoxic, febrifuge, fungicide, insecticide, nervine, stomachic and a tonic.
Caution
The quinine bark contains certain naturally occurring substances called quinine alkaloids, the consumption of which may lead to numerous side-effects. In fact, drugs containing quinine are strictly prescription drugs and should be sold only under the recommendation of a health practitioner.
Always look for the warning signs and contraindications, while using higher levels of quinine alkaloids.
