Cinchona Plant - Report Example

Cinchona Plant Cinchona Plant Taxonomy The Cinchona plant is widely recognized for its medicinal value, especially after the extraction process. It is also useful in the production of hair tonic and steel (Fattorusso & Taglialatela-Scafati, 2007). According to the United States Department of Agriculture (2015), the Cinchona plant belongs to the family Rubiaceae. The plant’s scientific name is Cinchona pubescens Vahl. In an effort to understand its taxonomy, it is necessary to examine its symbol, group, duration, growth habit and native status. Its symbol is CIPU while its group is dicot. Its duration is perennial while its growth habit corresponds to a tree. Finally, its native status is HI I. The Cinchona plant belongs to the kingdom plantae and sub-kingdom Tracheobionta meaning that it is a vascular plant (United States Department of Agriculture, 2015). It belongs to the superdivision known as spermatophyta because it is a seed plant. Cinchona’s division and class are magniolophyta and magnoliopsida respectively. It is crucial to examine the plant further by looking at its subclass known as asteridae. The order is rubiales while the genus is Cinchona L. The species is Cinchona pubescens Vahl also known as quinine (United States Department of Agriculture, 2015). The legal status of the plant is multifaceted based on its acceptability in diverse regions. It is also evident that the plant can assume a weedy or invasive nature. Overview of the Plant Cinchona, also known among the nonprofessionals as quinine bark, is a famous plant that grows in the rainforest in South America (Rain Tree, 1996). The name Cinchona purportedly originated from the wife of a Peruvian viceroy, who was known as Cinchon. The quinine bark was introduced in England in 1658. It was later incorporated into the British Pharmacopoeia in 1677 (Rain Tree, 1996). The plant then moved from England to Spain where it was used to relieve pain and treat other ailments. It is crucial to acknowledge that the plant later underwent classification in 1737 (Rain Tree, 1996). Apart from its use in the treatment of malaria, the plant was instrumental in managing fever, indigestion and cancer. It is evident that quinine bark was primarily used for such functions in the years ranging from 1600s-1800s. The plant affected civilization because it contributed to the discovery of modern ways of managing pain and ailments. It also enhanced industrial processes. The quinine bark is still useful in the contemporary society, especially among herbalists. It is to examine the plant’s usage in various settings. For example, Brazilian medicine considers the bark as “a tonic, a digestive stimulant, and fever-reducer. It is used for anemia, indigestion, gastrointestinal disorders, general fatigue, fevers, malaria and as an appetite stimulant” (Rain Tree, 1996 p. 1). Southern Americans believe that the Cinchona plant is helpful in the management of cancer. The Europeans use the Cinchona plant to fight protozoa, malaria and as antispasmodic agents. The discovery of the plant, especially its medicinal value is attributed to two scientists. In 1820, Pelletier and Caventou succeeded in isolating a chemical present in the bark (Rain Tree, 1996). The chemical had an alkaloid effect that had a significant anti-malarial result. The current practices pertaining to the Cinchona plant is harvesting of the bark. After repeated harvesting of the bark, the tree is cut down. New trees are then planted to replace the old ones. A cultural examination of the plant highlights its role in the indigenous society. The existing folklores represent the plant as an important part of the society due to its ability to make the members enjoy good health. In addition, it shows the exploitative nature of developed nations that exploit indigenous communities. Morphology Image of the Cinchona plant (United States Department of Agriculture, 2015) The plant mainly grows as trees and shrubs reaching a height of about 12 m (Tao & Taylor, 2011). The color of the bark is usually grayish-brown. It may also be fissured in a longitudinal manner with the branches assuming a flat dimension. The leaf blade is best characterized using diverse terms such as “leaf blade drying papery, ovate, ovate-elliptic, or elliptic-oblong, 10–24.5 × 5.5–17 cm” (Tao & Taylor, 2011 p.89). The plant has capsules with distinct measurements presented as 10-18 (-41) * 5-77m. The size of the seed are 7-12 * 2-3mm inclusive of the wings (Tao & Taylor, 2011 p.89). Cellular and Biochemical characteristics The molecular formula of the Cinchona plant is C20H24N2O2. It has a molecular weight of 324.41676 g/mol (Pubchem, ND). In an effort to comprehend the cellular and biochemical characteristics of the Cinchona plant, it is necessary to acknowledge that the plant has alkaloid characteristics. It means that it has nitrogen-containing compounds. It is noted that the alkaloid molecule in the plant normally arises after the metabolism of amino acids (Pubchem, ND). The amino acid skeleton is usually preserved in the alkaloid structure. It is crucial to underscore that biosynthesis process associated with alkaloids habitually assumes a complex path with specific steps. Quinine has a flat ring that normally fits within the bases of a protozoa’s DNA. As a result, it can interfere with the normal processes of the DNA that include transcription. It also interferes with the cell replication process. As a result, the protozoa eventually die. (Pubchem, ND) Processing The initial harvest of the Cinchona usually takes place after 6-8 years of planting. Close to 9000-16000 kg are obtained from an acre (NIIR Board of Consultants and Engineers, 2006). It is noted that the trees are usually cut some distance from the ground in order to allow further sprouting. The process allows further harvesting after 6-7 years after the initial harvest (NIIR Board of Consultants and Engineers, 2006). The stem and root are cut and dried. After cutting, the bark is removed and placed under a shade to dry (NIIR Board of Consultants and Engineers, 2006). After the harvesting process, the manufacturer separates the alkaloid from other components that make up a significant part of the plant. It is important to consider that the cinchona plant consists of more than twenty-five alkaloids. The needed alkaloid is separated using high-performances liquid chromatography, (HPLC) and high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) (Lieu, 2012). The first process in the separation process is sample preparation (Lieu, 2012). During the stage, the plant is ground to a coarse powder in order to allow the plant to interact with the solvent in an effective manner (Lieu, 2012). In the event that substances such as fat hinder the process, it is necessary to use non-polar solvents. The second process is liberating the alkaloid base by converting the alkaloid salts (Lieu, 2012). The process happens alkaloids are present in plants as salts. The third step involves extraction of alkaloid base while the final step is purification of the alkaloid extract (Lieu, 2012). Why the plant makes it The cinchona plant is renowned because it plays a noteworthy role in the ancient and contemporary society. It has not only evolved to serve divergent needs but also maintained its traditional values. Consequently, many herbalists are still using the drug to address numerous maladies. As illustrated in the sections above, its uses are varied and numerous. The Europeans, Americans and Spanish use them for divergent reasons. Emerging applications of the plant include conducting research on tastes. The compound also serves as a bittering agent for soft drinks (Fattorusso & Taglialatela-Scafati, 2007). It is also evident that the plant has several industrial applications that make it appealing to industrialists and chemists. The extraction process is relatively simple and easy to conduct. References Top of Form Fattorusso, E., & Taglialatela-Scafati, O. (2007). Modern Alkaloids: Structure, Isolation, Synthesis and Biology. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. Bottom of Form United States Department of Agriculture. (2015). Cinchona pubescens Vahl quinine. Retrieved from http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CIPU Lieu, N. (2012). General Methods of Extraction and Isolation of Alkaloids. Pharmacognosy Retrieved from http://www.epharmacognosy.com/2012/07/general-methods-of-extraction-and.html NIIR Board of Consultants and Engineers. (2006). Cultivation and Processing of Selected Medicinal Plants. Asia Pacific Business Press Inc., Pubchem. (ND). Quinine. Retrieved from http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Quinine#section=Top Rain Tree. (1996). Tropical Plant Database. Retrieved from http://www.rain- tree.com/quinine.htm#.VPvsQuFRK9c Tao, C. & Taylor, C. (2011). 16. CINCHONA Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 172. 1753. Fl. China 19, 88– 89. Read More