Cinchona officinalis
Cinchona officinalis, commonly known as the quinine tree, is a historic medicinal plant native to the Andean forests. Renowned for its alkaloid-rich bark, it serves as the primary natural source of quinine. This essential compound revolutionized medicine as a powerful antimalarial agent, playing a crucial role in global healthcare.
- Scientific name: Cinchona officinalis
- Family: Rubiaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Cinchona officinalis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Gentianales and the family Rubiaceae. Finally, it is situated within the genus Cinchona.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Gentianales | WCVP |
| Family | Rubiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Cinchona | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Cinchona officinalis, is recognized by various common names across different languages and regions. In Spanish, it is referred to as Cinchona ledgeriana, while in Portuguese, it is commonly called Quinquina. Its name takes on the form Kınakına in Turkish and is identified as Κιγχόνη η φαρμακευτική in Greek. Additionally, in French, the species is known as Quinquina officinalis.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| es | Cinchona ledgeriana | Wikidata |
| pt | Quinquina | Wikidata |
| tr | Kınakına | Wikidata |
| el | Κιγχόνη η φαρμακευτική | Wikidata |
| fr | Quinquina officinalis | Wikidata |
| pt-br | Quinquina | Wikidata |
| az | Dərman kinəsi | Wikidata |
| zh | 正鸡纳树 | Wikidata |
| gl | Quina | Wikidata |
| it | Cinchona calisaya | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several continents and oceanic regions. In Western South America, it is notably found growing in Colombia. Its presence extends to the Caribbean islands, specifically within Jamaica and Puerto Rico. Moving across the ocean, the species can also be located in St. Helena in the Middle Atlantic. Finally, its range reaches West Tropical Africa, where it is documented in Guinea.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| Middle Atlantic Ocean | St.Helena | WCVP |
| Caribbean | Jamaica | WCVP |
| Caribbean | Puerto Rico | WCVP |
| Western South America | Colombia | WCVP |
| Western South America | Ecuador | WCVP |
| Western South America | Peru | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Cinchona officinalis, is highly valued in pharmacology primarily for its medicinal properties derived from its specialized tissues. The most significant parts utilized for the extraction of quinine are the bark and the stem bark. These woody layers contain high concentrations of alkaloids, which are harvested from the mature stem bark to treat conditions such as malaria. By carefully stripping the bark from the stems, practitioners can access the chemical compounds essential for therapeutic applications.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 3
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| barks | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Cinchona officinalis has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include cinchonine, quinine.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cinchonine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| quinine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Cinchona officinalis has 4 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antioxidant, Antiviral.
- Total activities
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiviral | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Cinchona officinalis has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, central nervous system disorders, infectious disease, urinary tract infections.
- Total uses
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| COVID-19 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| SARS-CoV-2 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| central nervous system disorders | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| infectious disease | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| urinary tract infections | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |