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Cinchona Plants: Nature’s Gift for Malaria Treatment and Beyond – By Malsha – eLanka image Source : openaccessgovernment The Cinchona plant, a small evergreen tree native to the Andean forests of South America, holds a remarkable place in the history of medicine. Belonging to the Rubiaceae family, Cinchona is best known as the natural source of quinine, a compound that has saved countless lives from the deadly grip of malaria. Origins and Discovery The genus Cinchona was named in honor of the Countess of Chinchón, wife of a Spanish viceroy in Peru, who was reportedly cured of malaria in the 1630s using bark from the Cinchona tree. European colonizers soon recognized the value of the plant, and its bark—often referred to as “Jesuit’s bark” or “fever tree bark”—became a precious commodity exported around the world. Medicinal Importance The most valuable component extracted from the Cinchona bark is quinine, an alkaloid with ...