cinchona

Source
• Known as
ledger bark
• From various
species of
Cinchona
• C.officinalis
• C.succirubra
• C.ledgeriana
• C.calisaya
• Rubiaceae
family
 Cultivation
• Requires acidic soil
• Seeds sorted & sown in boxes
• Germinate in 3 wks
• When 5cm ht planted in nurseries
covered by rough roofs & shade
gradually removed as they grow
• When 20 – 30 cm ht planted in clearing
• Planted in cloudy weather during rainy
season 1mt apart
• When 4 yrs old plants thinned out to
the extent of 25% & again next year
• Finally only 50% of plants remain
• Collected when 6yrs old
• Coppicing method used
• In Java uprooting method used when
plants are 12yrs old
 Collection

• Collected in rainy season

• Dried by sun’s heat
• Provisions made for
protecting from rain & dew
• Sometimes artificial heat
used for completion
 Description
Surface
external rough , greyish
,epiphytes
inner striated longitudinally
yellowish brown
Cork may/may not be present
wrinkled with transverse
cracks
Odour slight
Taste bitter & astringent
 Microscopy
• Cork poly gonal , reddish
brown
masses
• Cortex parenchymatous ,
red brown walls with
starch calcium
oxalate , secretion canals
• Phloem pitted , lignified fibers
• Medullary rays uni to tri seriate
 Constituents

• Alkaloids
• Present in combination with
quinic acid & cinchotannic acid
3. Quinine
4. Quinidine
5. Cinchonine
6. Cinchonidine
7. Quinovin glycoside
 Uses
• Bitter stomachic
• Source of quinine
• Astringent
• Antimalarial
• Used in Cardiac arrythmias &
atrial fibrillation