Quinine is a drug used in the treatment of malaria. From which part of the plant is it obtained?

Quinine is a naturally occurring alkaloid used primarily for the treatment of malaria [2]. It is extracted from the dried bark of various species of the Cinchona tree, which is native to the tropical forests of South America [t2][t8]. Historically, the bark was ground into powder and mixed with liquids to treat fevers, eventually becoming a vital commodity for global health and colonial expansion [t8]. Scientific analysis confirms that the bark of Cinchona species, such as Cinchona officinalis and Cinchona pubescens, contains high concentrations of quinine and other alkaloids like quinidine and cinchonine [t2][t4]. These compounds work by interfering with the malaria parasite's ability to detoxify heme, leading to its death [t9]. While other plant parts like leaves or roots are used for different medicinal purposes, the bark remains the specific source for quinine extraction [c1][t3].

Sources

1. [1] FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Primary Activities > HUNTING AND GATHERING > p. 23
2. [2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/cinchona-alkaloid