Lojabark
Cinchona officinalis · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Moderate (103 studies) · ★★★☆☆
Lojabark, scientifically known as Cinchona officiinalis, is a vital medicinal plant native to the tropical Andes. Renowned for its alkaloid content, it serves as the primary natural source of quinine. Historically significant, this bark has played a crucial role in treating malaria and advancing global pharmaceutical developments.
- Family
- Rubiaceae
- Native range
- Africa
- Parts used
- Stem
- Common names
- Lojabark · Quinine Bark
- Scientific synonyms
- Cinchona Officinalis Var. Condaminea · Cinchona Cucumifolia · 23 more
Names
Common Names
- Lojabark
- Quinine Bark
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Cinchona ledgeriana
- Cinchona thwaitesii
- Cinchona weddelliana var. multiscrobiculata
- Cinchona gironensis
- Cinchona euneura
- Cinchona amygdalifolia
- Cinchona weddelliana var rubrifolia
- Cinchona calisaya var. vera
- Quinquina carabayensis var villosa
- Quinquina carabayensis
- Cinchona delondriana
- Cinchona carabayensis var. lanceolata
- Cinchona forbesiana
- Cinchona calisaya var vera
- Cinchona scrobiculata var delondriana
- Cinchona weddelliana var rubrivenata
- Quina
- cascarilla
- árbol de quina
German:
- Gelber Chinarindenbaum
French:
- Quinquina officinalis
- Quinquina
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Cinchona officinalisSynonyms
- Cinchona officinalis var. condaminea
- Cinchona cucumifolia
- Cinchona legitima
- Quinquina officinalis
- Cinchona officinalis var. vera
- Quinquina palton
- Myroxylon trialatum
- Cinchona palton
- Cinchona macrocalyx var. obtusifolia
- Cinchona macrocalyx var. uritusinga
- Cinchona officinalis var. bonplandianacolorata
- Cinchona officinalis var. bonplandianalutea
- Cinchona officinalis var. crispa
- Cinchona officinalis var. uritusinga
- Cinchona stupea
- Cinchona subcordata
- Cinchona suberosa
- Cinchona uritusinga
- Cinchona condaminea var. chahuraguera
- Cinchona condaminea
- Cinchona chahuraguera
- Cinchona crispa
- Cinchona academica
- Cinchona lancifolia var. lanceolata
- Cinchona lucumifolia var. stupea
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 |
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.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| stem | Planta medica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Cinchona officinalis has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Quinine, cinchonine, 3-alpha,17-beta-Cinchophylline, 3-beta,17-beta-Cinchophylline, Avicularin.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Quinine | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cinchonine | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3-alpha,17-beta-Cinchophylline | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3-beta,17-beta-Cinchophylline | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Avicularin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| CINCHONIDINE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Tannin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hydroquinidine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| quinidine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Quinine
- Dr. Duke
- Biologia
cinchonine
- Dr. Duke
- Biologia
3-alpha,17-beta-Cinchophylline
- Dr. Duke
3-beta,17-beta-Cinchophylline
- Dr. Duke
Avicularin
- Dr. Duke
CINCHONIDINE
- Dr. Duke
Tannin
- Dr. Duke
hydroquinidine
- Dr. Duke
quinidine
- Dr. Duke
Activities
Cinchona officinalis has 81 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Antiviral, Abortifacient, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiviral | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Abortifacient | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Allergenic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Amebicide | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anesthetic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anthelmintic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Cinchona officinalis has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 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.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| COVID-19 | Biologia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| SARS-CoV-2 | Biologia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| central nervous system disorders | Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| infectious disease | Journal of dietary supplements (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| urinary tract infections | Frontiers in bioscience (Elite edition) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| aqueous-methanolic extract (1:1; v/v) | Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |