Q.29 Drug ‘quinine’ used for treatment of malaria is obtained from
Answer: (3) Cinchona spp.
Quinine, the primary alkaloid for malaria treatment, is obtained from the bark of Cinchona species (e.g., Cinchona officinalis, C. ledgeriana), native to Andes and cultivated in India/Darjeeling.
Option Analysis
Artemisia absinthium (1) – Incorrect
Artemisia absinthium (wormwood) yields absinthin/thujone for absinthe liquor and digestive bitters; antimalarial artemisinin comes from Artemisia annua, not absinthium.
Rauwolfia serpentina (2) – Incorrect
Rauwolfia serpentina (sarpagandha) provides reserpine for hypertension and tranquilizers, not quinine or antimalarials.
Cinchona spp. (3) – Correct
Cinchona bark (“Jesuit’s bark”) yields 0.5-13% quinine, used since 1630s for Plasmodium falciparum; key in WWII malaria control via Java plantations.
Ipomoea violacea (4) – Incorrect
Ipomoea violacea (morning glory) seeds contain LSA (lysergic acid amide) as hallucinogen, unrelated to quinine or malaria therapy.
Quinine drug malaria Cinchona represents a landmark in pharmacognosy, with bark alkaloids saving millions from Plasmodium since Quechua use in 1600s Peru.
Historical and Botanical Context
Introduced to Europe by Jesuits (hence “Jesuit’s powder”), Cinchona cultivation shifted to India (Darjeeling hills) post-1860 smuggling from Andes; yields quinine sulfate (500kg/year demand). Synthetic alternatives reduced reliance, but resurgence aids artemisinin combos in Rajasthan’s tribal malaria zones.
| Plant | Drug | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|
| Cinchona spp. | Quinine | Malaria (Plasmodium) |
| Artemisia annua | Artemisinin | Malaria (not absinthium) |
| Rauwolfia serpentina | Reserpine | Hypertension |
| Ipomoea violacea | LSA | Hallucinogen |
Exam Strategy
NEET/GATE Life Sciences: Pin quinine=Cinchona (bark); distinguish from Rauwolfia (reserpine) and Artemisia annua (ACT). Vital for Indian pharmacognosy syllabi.
