This presentation contains a brief knowledge about cinchona bark.

1. Cinchona Bark
Presentation By:-
Mr. Mohit Thakre
H.O.D.
Pharmacy Department
(Oriental Institute of Pharmacy, Lalburra)

2. Cinchona Bark
• Synonyms :- Jesuit’s Bark.
Peruvian Bark.
• Biological Source :- It is the dried
bark which is obtain from plant
“Cinchona Calisaya”; “Cinchona Officinalis”.
It contain not less than 6% of total
alkaloid of cinchona.
• Family :- Rubiaceae.

3. Cultivation
1. Most of the cinchona species grow in sub-
tropical or tropical climates at a height of about
1000-3000 meters.
2. The temperature required 60-75 F.
3. The acidic soil of pH 4.2-5.6 with small amount
of nitrogen required for favorable growth.
4. A distance of 2X2 meters maintain between two
plant.
5. The germination takes place 3-6 weeks. The
highest alkaloid obtain at age of 6-10 year plant.

4. Collection
1. The bark is collected by ‘Coppicing’ method.
2. The bark is stripped off and dried in sunlight and
further by artificial heat.
3. During drying temperature is maintain below
175F. The drug loses upto 70% of its weight
while drying.
4. The quills of drug are packed in gunny bag and
marketed.
5. India exported Quinine and its salt of about
Rs.299.0 lakhs during 1995-1996.

5. Geographical Source
• Cinchona is found in following countries :-
1. India.
2. Bolivia.
3. Columbia.
4. Peru.
5. Srilanka.
6. Indonesia.

6. Macroscopic Characters
-:Stem Bark:-
Colour:- Dull Brown Grey.
Odour:- Slight and Characteristics.
Taste:- Intensely Bitter and Astringent.
Shape:- In form of Quills and Curved Piece.
Size:- Upto 30cm. in length about 2 to 6
mm. in thickness.

7. Macroscopic Characters
-:Root Bark:-
Colour:- The inner and outer surface are in
brown colour.
Odour:- Slight and Characteristic.
Taste:- Bitter.
Shape:- Curved, Twisted or Irregular
channelled.
Size:- 2 to 7cm. in length.

8. Appeareance
Fig.:- Cinchona Plant and Bark

9. Microscopic Characters

10. Chemical Constituents
1. Quinine.
2. Qunidine.
3. Cinchonine.
4. Cinchonidine.
5. Cupreine.
6. Hydroquinine.
7. Quinic Acid.

11. Chemical Structure
Quinidine
CinchonidineCuperine

12. Extraction of Quinine
Bark is powdered and extracted + Benzene or
Toluene.
(Alkali)
Alkaloids are Extracted with Dil. Sulphuric acid.
By bringing the acid extract to neutrality.
Quinine sulphate seprates, as it is sparigly
soluble.

13. Chemical Test
1. Heat the powdered drug in a dried test tube
with little ‘Glacial Acetic Acid’. The Purple
Vapour show the confirmation of cinchona.
2. The powdered drug gives Emerald Green
colour with ‘Bromine Water and Dil.
Ammonia Solution’.
3. Quinidine solution gives a White
Precipitation with ‘Silver Nitrate Solution’;
which is soluble in ‘Nitric Acid’.

14. Dose
1. Cinchona Powder:- 0.3 to 1 gm. Taken orally
with Water or Milk.
2. Quinine Sulphate:- 1 gm. daily for 2 days
than 600mg. daily for 5 days.
3. Quinidine Sulphate:- 0.2 to 0.4 gm. every
two to four hours to a total dose of 3 gm.
daily in Atrial Fibrillation.

15. Uses
1. Cinchona Bark used as an ‘Antimalarial’ drug.
2. It is used as ‘Stomachics’ due to its bitter
taste.
3. Quindine is valuable in prevantion of ‘Atrial
Fibrillation’.
4. Quinidine is primarly a ‘Cardiac Depressant’
and used to prevent certain ‘Arrhythmias’.
5. It has also ‘Antipyretics’ action.

16. Substitutes
1. Cuprea Bark is a coppery red coloured drug,
contains Quinine, Quinidine and other
alkaloids which resemble to those from
Cinchona bark. The bark may also contain
Cupreine.
2. False Cuprea Bark contain traces of
Cinchonine, Cinchonamine but not contain
Quinine.

17. Refrences
 Kokate C.K., Purohit A.P., Gokhale S.B.;
“Pharmacognosy”; Fourty Frist Edition; Year
2008 {May}; Published By- Nirali Prakashan;
Page no.- 13.54-13.59.