Quinquina: benefits and uses in phytotherapy
Cinchona, the essentials in 3 points:
-Stimulates immune defenses -Stimulates and improves digestion -Stimulates appetite in case of loss of appetite and helps maintain digestive comfort
Cinchona is a shrub of the Rubiaceae family with an established reputation. It is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry. In the field of phytotherapy, cinchona is also very popular. This is largely due to its naturally rich composition in active ingredients, including quinine.
To find out more about the botanical characteristics of cinchona
It’s a shrub, or rather a small tree, 5 to 6 meters tall. It is characterized by opposite, leathery, evergreen leaves. These glossy leaves are more or less oval in shape. Cinchona is one of the so-called evergreen shrubs. This means that, unlike plants that lose their leaves in winter, cinchona retains its leaves all year round. This is one of its main characteristics. Cinchona flowers appear at the start of summer. They grow in clusters at the tips of the branches, and are distinguished by their pink to purple color. The fruits of this shrub take the form of small, ellipsoid capsules. In addition to the shrub itself, the name cinchona also refers to its bark. It is also known as Peruvian brown bark. Cinchona is a shrub native to South America, around Ecuador. Today, it is widely distributed in the Andes, where it can grow in high-altitude forests up to 3,000 meters.
Find out more about the use of cinchona in phytotherapy
Today, cinchona is one of the world’s best-known shrubs. Its popularity stems from its bark, which is exceptionally rich in active compounds. Cinchona bark contains quinoline alkaloids, such as quinine and quinidine, indole alkaloids, such as cinchonamine, and phenolic compounds. Cinchona also contains organic acids, including quinic acid, cinchonaines and proanthocyanidols. It also contains bitter triterpene saponosides, including quinovine, anthraquinones and an aromatic essence. These compounds are present in all quinquinas. However, the active substance content is higher in red cinchona. It is this species that is favoured in phytotherapy. Indeed, these different active ingredients act synergistically to aid the digestive process. In addition to contributing to digestive comfort, these same active compounds are capable of stimulating the appetite. To enable consumers to enjoy the benefits of cinchona, manufacturers offer bark extracts in a variety of formats. They are available in capsules, tablets and herbal powders. For infusions, for example, use 20 g of red cinchona bark extract for one liter of water. Bring the mixture to the boil for 5 minutes. The resulting drink should be drunk with meals. To make it easy to swallow, it is highly recommended to add a little sugar or honey to the herbal tea. Whether you choose to take capsules or tablets, or prefer to drink herbal tea, always follow the product dosage instructions. Take the time to read the package leaflets carefully. You’ll find all the information you need to take your food supplements. We also encourage you to contact a professional herbalist for personalized advice. Throughout the course of the treatment, and even afterwards, it is always advisable to maintain a healthy lifestyle and diet.
Discover the other benefits of cinchona
In addition to its use in phytotherapy, cinchona is also used in medicine. In fact, quinine is still used today to treat diseases such as malaria, particularly in Africa and tropical zones. In addition, the synthetic molecule version of quinine is used in the composition of medicines classified as essential by the WHO, the World Health Organization. These medicines are only available on prescription. Finally, cinchona is a key ingredient in many soft drinks. Cinchona extracts give these drinks a bitter taste and a phosphorescent appearance when exposed to ultraviolet light. Naturally, the cinchona content used in drinks is subject to strict regulation and supervision.
