Synonym: Jesuit's bark, Peruvian bark

Biological source: It is the dried bark of the trees of Cinchona calisaya ., C. ledgeriana , C. officinalis., C. succirubra

Family: Rubiaceae

Geographical source: India, Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Tanzania, Guatemala, Indonesia and Sri Lanka

History:

• It is known that the bark was first used as an antipyretic in 1630 by jesuits, although it was discovered in 1513 in Peru.

• Owing to the efforts of Viceroy of Peru, Count Chinchona it was introduced as a drug in Europe around 1655.

• It was officially reported as an infusion in London Pharmacopoeia in 1677.

• In India, owing to the antimalarial and antipyretic use of this drug; right from 1880, a large area was taken for cultivation of cinchona in West Bengal, which eventually shifted to South India.

Cultivation, Collection and Preparation

Propagation method and period: Seed the sowing is done towards June-July

Altitude: about 1000 - 3000 metres.

Rainfall: 250 - 380 cm.

Temperature: Atmospheric temperature of 60° - 75°F.

Soil and pH: Acidic soil having a pH of 4.2 - 5.6.

Plantation

• Cinchona needs slopping situation, high humidity and protection from wind.

• The propagation is done with either seeds or budding or layering.

• The germination takes place in 3to 6 weeks.

• The seedlings with 2 pairs of leaves are transplanted and space of 6 - 10 cm IS maintained In between two seedlings and 2 rows.

• As cinchona consists of stem, as well as root bark, the plants from 4 to 20 years of age are selected for harvesting, but the maximum alkaloidal content is found to 6 to 10 years old plants.

• The bark is collected by coppicing method.

• For this purpose, vertical incisions are made on branches, trunk of tree and these incisions are connected by horizontal circles.

• The bark is then stripped off and dried in sun light and further by artificial heat.

• The drying is done below 175°F. During drying, the bark loses upto 70 per cent of its weight.

• The care should be taken to avoid molding or fermentation during drying.

Macroscopic characters bark:

Colour: Inner surface is pale yellowish-brown to deep reddish-brown

Odour: slight and characteristic

Taste: Astringent and intensely bitter

Shape: Quills and curved pieces.

Stem bark

Colour: Dull brown grey or grey colour

Shape: Rough and has transverse fissures, It is furrowed or wrinkled longitudinally.

Size: 30 cm in length and about 2 to 6 rnm in thickness

Fracture: Short in external layers and fibrous in the inner portion.

Root bark

Colour: Yellowish-brown

Shape: Curved, twisted or irregularly channelled. The outer surface is scaly and shows depressions. The inner surface is striated.

Size: 2 - 7 cm.

Extraction of Quinine

For extraction of quinine, the bark is powdered and extracted with benzene or toluene in presence of alkali. Further, the alkaloids are extracted with dil. sulphuric acid. By bringing the acid extract to neutrality, quinine sulphate separates, as it is sparingly soluble.

Chemical Tests

(1) In Dry Test Tube + little glacial acetic acid------------> purple vapours are produced at the upper part of test tube.

(2) Thalleoquin test:

The powdered drug + bromine water and dilute ammonia solution =======> emerald green colour with.

(3) Quinidine solution gives a white precipitate with silver nitrate solution, which is soluble in nitric acid.

Uses:

Bitter stomachics and antipyretics

Quinine and its salts are used in the treatment of malaria.

Quinine in microencapsulated form has been reported to give better bioavailabillty.

Quinidine is primarily a cardiac depressant and used to prevent certain arrhythmias and

tachycardia in prevention of atrial fibrillation.

Dose

(1) Chinchona powder: 0.3 to 1 g

(2) Quinine sulphate: 1 g daily for 2 days and then 600 mg daily for 5 days

(3) Quinidine sulphate: 0.2 to 0.4 g every two to four hours to a total dose of 3 g daily in atrial fibrillation.

Substitutes

Cuprea bark (Remijia pedunculata),