Cinchona officinalis
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64404d776e522749004384 |
| Scientific name | Cinchona officinalis |
| Authority | L. |
| First published in | Sp. Pl. : 172 (1753) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
The ethnobotany of Cinchona officinalis is anchored in its bitter bark and the long-standing use of bark infusions as a quinine-rich tonic. In the Andean highlands where the tree originates, indigenous and mestizo healers recorded decoctions of the bark for fevers and intermittent illness long before quinine was isolated; related practices are described by Bennett et al. (2021) among rural Andean communities. Europeans adopted bark powders and infusions following Jesuit records in the 17th century, and by the 18th and 19th centuries the drink called “Peruvian bark infusion” became a staple fever tonic in colonial medicine and the origins of quinine tonic water; Berends (2000) reviews the shift from crude bark to purified alkaloids. In Southeast Asia, bark infusions in 5–10% alcohol were employed in colonial medicine in Java and Malay for malaria, while in modern West Africa quinine-rich bark teas continue to be used as an adjunct to malaria care, as summarized in Kew’s medicinal plant profiles.
The traditional preparations vary, but all rely on a water or alcohol extraction of the bark’s alkaloids. Decoctions of powdered bark are cited in WHO monographs on cinchona species, commonly 1–3 g of powdered bark simmered for 10–20 minutes, occasionally repeated twice daily during fevers. In Andean practice the bark was often macerated first in warm water before decoction, and European preparations included cold macerations and gentle infusions used as bitter tonics. Contemporary folk use in Africa frequently employs bark infusions of 1–2 g in hot water taken once or twice daily, with Wichtl (2004) documenting infusion and maceration protocols alongside tincture methods.
A practical, one-time recipe for a mild fever tea follows WHO guidance: use 2 g of finely cut cinchona bark, add 250 mL of water, bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes, then steep off the heat for an additional 10 minutes. Typical adult dose is one cup 1–2 times daily, using no more than 1–3 g total bark per day. This preparation should be used only by non-pregnant adults, and it can interact with warfarin and other anticoagulants; people with G6PD deficiency, or those on quinidine or class IA antiarrhythmics, should avoid it. Prolonged daily dosing beyond two weeks is not advised without supervision.
The bark’s activity traces to quinine and closely related alkaloids like quinidine and cinchonidine; these are well-established constituents reported for Cinchona officinalis and account for the antipyretic and antimalarial effects traditionally ascribed to bark infusions and decoctions. In modern contexts, quinine itself remains the benchmark antimalarial, and cinchona bark tinctures, standardized extracts, and quinine-flavored beverages remain in commercial circulation; research continues on plant alkaloid pharmacology and sustainable cultivation of cinchona in traditional Andean ecosystems, as noted by Kew’s profiles and WHO monographs on cinchona.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
The bark of Cinchona officinalis is processed to obtain quinine, a bitter alkaloid that is used as a flavoring agent in non‑alcoholic and alcoholic beverages. Commercial preparations include tonic water, quinine‑flavored soft drinks, and bitter liqueurs such as aperitifs, where quinine provides the characteristic bitter note.
Food and beverages (non‑medicinal):
Quinine is listed by food regulatory authorities as a permitted flavoring substance for carbonated beverages; it is typically incorporated at concentrations ranging from a few milligrams per litre to a few tens of milligrams per litre. Commercial examples are Indian‑style tonic water, “bitter soda” formulations, and gin‑and‑tonic mixes, where quinine’s bitterness complements citrus and aromatic components without imparting therapeutic intent.
Industrial and craft applications:
Quinine sulfate serves as a standard fluorescent reference in analytical chemistry due to its high quantum yield under UV excitation; it is used to calibrate fluorimeters and to assess instrument sensitivity. Additionally, quinine and its diastereomer quinidine are employed as chiral auxiliaries in asymmetric synthesis and as chiral selectors in high‑performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), providing a natural source for stereoselective separations.
Scientific/model‑organism use:
Cinchona officinalis is cultivated as a reference organism for studies of alkaloid biosynthesis, particularly the biosynthesis of quinine and related quinoline alkaloids. Genomic resources for C. officinalis (including draft genome assemblies) are available in public repositories such as the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), supporting comparative genomics within the Rubiaceae family and enabling molecular breeding for bark productivity.
Properties relevant to use:
The alkaloid quinine exhibits intense blue fluorescence (quantum yield ≈ 0.54 in 0.1 N H₂SO₄) and a specific optical rotation [α]ᴅ²⁰ ≈ +117°, properties that underpin its roles as a fluorescent standard and as a chiral resolving agent. Its bitter perception threshold (≈ 10 ppm in water) and solubility profile allow controlled incorporation into beverage formulations.
Standards and regulation:
In the United States, quinine is affirmed as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) for use as a flavoring in non‑alcoholic beverages (21 CFR 184.1468) with a maximum permitted level of 83 mg L⁻¹. The European Union’s Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 lists quinine as an authorized flavoring and limits its concentration to 8 mg L⁻¹ for tonic water and similar products.
Sustainability and sourcing:
Commercial production of C. officinalis occurs on plantation systems in regions such as Tanzania, Indonesia, and South America, where bark is harvested by selective pruning of branches rather than whole‑tree removal, promoting regeneration. Some plantations are certified under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or equivalent sustainable‑forestry schemes, and agroforestry practices are employed to maintain biodiversity while supplying the bark used for quinine extraction.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Cinchona chahuraguera | Pav. | Ill. Nueva Quinol. Pav. t. [1]. 1859 (1859) |
| Cinchona cucumaefolia | Pav. ex Lamb. | Ill. Cinchona : 2 (1821) |
| Cascarilla officinalis | Ruiz | Quinologia : 56 (1792) |
| Cinchona peruviana | Mutis | Corr. Linnaeus 2: 530 (1821) |
| Quinquina palton | (Pav.) Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 295 (1891) |
| Cinchona chahuarguera | Pav. ex DC. | Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 4: 352. 1830 [late Sep 1830] |
| Cinchona coccinea | Pav. ex DC. | Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 4: 353. 1830 [late Sep 1830] |
| Cinchona condaminea | Bonpl. | Pl. Aequinoct. 1: 33 (1808) |
| Cinchona palton | Pav. | Ill. Nueva Quinol. Pav. : t. 17 (1859) |
| Cinchona suberosa | Pav. | Ill. Nueva Quinol. Pav. : ad calcem (1859) |
| Cinchona legitima | Ruiz ex C.J.Laubert | Bull. Pharm. (Paris) , 2: 293 (1810) |
| Cinchona colorata | C.J.Laubert | Bull. de Pharm. (1810) 294 '. |
| Cinchona lancifolia var. lanceolata | Roem. & Schult. | Syst. Veg. 5: 9 1825 |
| Cinchona macrocalyx var. obtusifolia | DC. | Prodr. 4: 353 (1830) |
| Cinchona macrocalyx var. uritusinga | DC. | Prodr. 4: 353 (1830) |
| Cinchona condaminea var. lanceolata | Wedd. | Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot. 3(11): 269 1849 |
| Cinchona crispa | Tafalla ex Howard | Ill. Nueva Quinol. Pav. : t. [9] (1859) |
| Cinchona officinalis var. uritusinga | Howard | Proc. Internat. Hortic. Exhib. Bot. Congr. London 203 1866 |
| Cinchona lucumifolia var. stupea | Wedd. | Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot. sér. 5, 11: 358. 1869 |
| Hindsia subandina | K.Krause ex Ule | Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 40(3): 431, nomen. 1908 [24 Jan 1908] |
| Quinquina officinalis | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 294 (1891) |
| Cinchona condaminea var. chahuarguera | Pav. ex DC. | Prodr. 4: 352 1830 |
| Cinchona officinalis var. condaminea | L.H.Bailey | Man. Cult. Pl. 714. 1924 |
| Cinchona academica | Gulbourt | Drogues Simples iii. 98. |
| Cinchona officinalis var. crispa | (Tafalla ex Howard) Howard | Proc. Internat. Hortic. Exhib. Bot. Congr. London 203. 1866 |
| Cinchona officinalis var. bonplandiana-colorata | Howard | Proc. Internat. Hortic. Exhib. Bot. Congr. London 203 1866 |
| Cinchona officinalis var. bonplandiana-lutea | Howard | Proc. Internat. Hortic. Exhib. Bot. Congr. London t. 1: 2 1859 |
| Cinchona uritusinga | Pav. ex Howard | Ill. Nueva Quinol. Pav. : t. 19 (1859) |
| Cinchona officinalis var. vera | Cárdenas | Coloniz. Agric. 13: 21 (1937) |
| Cinchona officinalis var. bonplandianacolorata | Howard | Proc. Internat. Hortic. Exhib. Bot. Congr. London 208. 1866 |
| Cinchona officinalis var. bonplandianalutea | Howard | Proc. Internat. Hortic. Exhib. Bot. Congr. London 208. 1866 |
| Cinchona condaminea var. chahuraguera | DC. | Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 4: 352. 1830 |
| Cinchona chahuraguera | Pav. ex DC. | Prodr. 4: 352 (1830) |
| Cinchona vritusino | Pav. ex DC. | Prodr. 4: 352 (1830) |
| Cinchona condaminea var. vera | Wedd. | Hist. Nat. Quinquinas : 37 (1849) |
| Cinchona obtusifolia | Pav. ex DC. | Prodr. 4: 353 (1830) |
| Cinchona officinalis var. condaminea | (Humb. & Bonpl.) Howard | Proc. Internat. Hortic. Exhib. Bot. Congr. London : 202 (1866) |
| Cinchona officinalis var. uritusinga | (Pav. ex Howard) Howard | Proc. Internat. Hortic. Exhib. Bot. Congr. London : 201 (1866) |
| Cinchona stupea | Pav. ex Lamb. | Ill. Cinchona : 2 (1821) |
| Cinchona uritusinga | Pav. ex DC. | Prodr. 4: 353 (1830) |
| Cinchona lancifolia var. lanceolata | Schult. | Syst. Veg., ed. 15[bis]. 5: 10 (1819) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | quinine |
| Spanish | quina |
| Spanish | quinquina carabayensis |
| Spanish | quinquina carabayensis var villosa |
| Arabic | الكينا |
| Arabic | الكينين |
| Azerbaijani | dərman kinəsi |
| Azerbaijani | aptek kinə ağacı |
| azb | آپتک کینه آغاجی |
| Catalan | calissaia |
| Catalan | cincona |
| Greek | Κιγχόνη η φαρμακευτική |
| French | quinquina officinalis |
| French | quinquina |
| Galician | quina |
| Italian | china calisaia |
| Italian | china |
| Latvian | hinīnkoks |
| Portuguese | quinquina |
| Portuguese | kina-kina |
| Turkish | kına kına |
| Turkish | kınakına |
| Vietnamese | quinquina |
| Chinese | 褐皮金鸡纳 |
| Chinese | 棕金鸡纳树 |
| Chinese | 金鸡勒 |
| Chinese | 正鸡纳树 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Africa click to expand
-
Middle Atlantic Ocean
- Saint Helena
-
Middle Atlantic Ocean
-
Southern America click to expand
-
Caribbean
- Jamaica
- Puerto Rico
-
Western South America
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Peru
-
Caribbean
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0001132044 |
| UNII | 3SXM338GIQ |
| USDA Plants | CIOF |
| Tropicos | 27900157 |
| INPN | 706049 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:58723-2 |
| The Plant List | tro-27900157 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 418110 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 273781 |
| IPNI | 58723-2 |
| iNaturalist | 286148 |
| GBIF | 2901250 |
| Freebase | /m/026nkq5 |
| EPPO | CIHOF |
| EOL | 1095779 |
| USDA GRIN | 10567 |
| Wikipedia | Cinchona_officinalis |
| CMAUP | NPO22054 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Amaryllidaceae alkaloids / Crinine- and Haemanthamine-type amaryllidaceae alkaloids | |||||
| (+)-Vittatine | 443693 | Click to see | 271.31 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1R,13R,15S,18R)-15-methoxy-5,7-dioxa-12-azapentacyclo[10.5.2.01,13.02,10.04,8]nonadeca-2,4(8),9,16-tetraen-18-ol | 40469675 | Click to see | 301.34 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1R,13S,15R)-5,7-dioxa-12-azapentacyclo[10.5.2.01,13.02,10.04,8]nonadeca-2,4(8),9,16-tetraen-15-ol | 12304132 | Click to see | 271.31 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1S,11S,13S,15R,18R)-15-methoxy-5,7-dioxa-12-azapentacyclo[10.5.2.01,13.02,10.04,8]nonadeca-2,4(8),9,16-tetraene-11,18-diol | 101297739 | Click to see COC1CC2C3(C=C1)C(CN2C(C4=CC5=C(C=C34)OCO5)O)O | 317.34 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1S,13R,15R,18S)-15-methoxy-5,7-dioxa-12-azapentacyclo[10.5.2.01,13.02,10.04,8]nonadeca-2,4(8),9,16-tetraen-18-ol | 42579248 | Click to see | 301.34 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| [(1S,13R,15R)-5,7-dioxa-12-azapentacyclo[10.5.2.01,13.02,10.04,8]nonadeca-2,4(8),9,16-tetraen-15-yl] acetate | 101935954 | Click to see CC(=O)OC1CC2C3(CCN2CC4=CC5=C(C=C43)OCO5)C=C1 | 313.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 3-O-Acetylhamayne | 443671 | Click to see CC(=O)OC1CC2C3(C=C1)C(CN2CC4=CC5=C(C=C34)OCO5)O | 329.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Crinamidine | 399204 | Click to see | 317.34 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Crinamine | 73620 | Click to see | 301.34 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| O-Demethylhaemanthamine | 44445844 | Click to see C1C(C=CC23C1N(CC2O)CC4=CC5=C(C=C34)OCO5)O | 287.31 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Amaryllidaceae alkaloids / Lycorine-type amaryllidaceae alkaloids | |||||
| Lycorine | 72378 | Click to see | 287.31 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Amaryllidaceae alkaloids / Tazettine-type amaryllidaceae alkaloids | |||||
| (1S,11S,13R,16S,18R)-11-ethoxy-18-methoxy-15-methyl-5,7,12-trioxa-15-azapentacyclo[11.7.0.01,16.02,10.04,8]icosa-2,4(8),9,19-tetraene | 15483834 | Click to see CCOC1C2=CC3=C(C=C2C45C=CC(CC4N(CC5O1)C)OC)OCO3 | 359.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Cinchona alkaloids | |||||
| (R)-[(2R,5R)-5-ethyl-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-yl]-(6-methoxyquinolin-4-yl)methanol | 45479755 | Click to see | 326.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (R)-[(2S,4R,5S)-5-ethyl-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-yl]-(6-methoxyquinolin-4-yl)methanol | 6916040 | Click to see | 326.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| [(2R,4S)-5-ethenyl-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-yl]-quinolin-4-ylmethanol | 92131260 | Click to see | 294.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2001-11995 |
| [(2R,5R)-5-ethenyl-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-yl]-(6-methoxy-4-quinolinyl)methanol | 24867865 | Click to see | 324.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1007/S002990050732 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2001-11995 |
| [(4S)-5-ethenyl-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-yl]-quinolin-4-ylmethanol | 75466425 | Click to see | 294.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2001-11995 |
| Alpha-quinidine | 2757 | Click to see | 294.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2001-11995 |
| Cinchonine | 90454 | Click to see | 294.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2001-11995 |
| Quinidine | 441074 | Click to see | 324.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S002990050732 |
| Quinine | 3034034 | Click to see | 324.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2001-11995 https://doi.org/10.1007/S002990050732 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzodioxoles | |||||
| 6-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-1,3-benzodioxole-5-carbaldehyde | 15549895 | Click to see | 242.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzopyrans / 2-benzopyrans | |||||
| N-Desmethyl-8alpha-ethoxypretazettine | 15483835 | Click to see CCOC1C2=CC3=C(C=C2C45C=CC(CC4NCC5O1)OC)OCO3 | 345.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| N-Desmethyl-8beta-ethoxypretazettine | 15483836 | Click to see CCOC1C2=CC3=C(C=C2C45C=CC(CC4NCC5O1)OC)OCO3 | 345.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Quinolines and derivatives / Benzoquinolines / Phenanthridines and derivatives | |||||
| (1S,13R)-9-methoxy-5,7-dioxa-12-azapentacyclo[10.5.2.01,13.02,10.04,8]nonadeca-2,4(8),9,14,16-pentaene | 21723147 | Click to see | 283.32 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 1-Epideacetylbowdensine | 443673 | Click to see | 319.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 7H-(1,3)Dioxolo(4,5-j)pyrrolo(3,2,1-de)phenanthridin-7-one | 100605 | Click to see | 263.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 7H-Pyrrolo(3,2,1-de)phenanthridin-7-one, 10-hydroxy-9-methoxy- | 5488695 | Click to see | 265.26 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Hippacine | 10015025 | Click to see | 251.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Pratorimine | 181937 | Click to see COC1=C(C=C2C(=C1)C3=CC=CC4=C3N(C2=O)C=C4)O | 265.26 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Tetrahydroisoquinolines / 4-phenyltetrahydroisoquinolines | |||||
| Cherylline | 90075 | Click to see | 285.34 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones | |||||
| Liquiritigenin | 114829 | Click to see | 256.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 7-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| 3',4'-Dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavan | 14157886 | Click to see | 272.29 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Guibourtinidol-7-methyl ether | 15549896 | Click to see COC1=CC2=C(CC(C(O2)C3=CC=C(C=C3)O)O)C=C1 | 272.29 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 8-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| (2S)-7-hydroxy-8-methoxy-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one | 15549894 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC2=C1OC(CC2=O)C3=CC=CC=C3)O | 270.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Linear 1,3-diarylpropanoids / Chalcones and dihydrochalcones / 2-Hydroxychalcones | |||||
| 1-(2,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-3-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)Prop-2-En-1-One | 425 | Click to see | 256.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Linear 1,3-diarylpropanoids / Cinnamylphenols | |||||
| 4-Hydroxy-2',4'-dimethoxydihydrochalcone | 15549893 | Click to see | 286.32 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |