Cinchonae cortex

Cinchona cortex, also known as cinchona bark, is a herbal medicinal product which, in the form of whole or cut dried bark, was formerly used as an antimalarial, antipyretic or bitter remedy. Today, the drug or the ingredients quinine and quinidine are used in finished medicines.

HMPC : not edited

ESCOP: uneditedCommission
E monograph: Loss of appetite, dyspeptic complaints, flatulence, feeling of fullness.

Obsolete as antipyretic, bitter still used for loss of appetite and digestive complaints.

Cinchonae cortex contains between 5 and 15 % bitter tasting Chinese alkaloids, with a minimum of 30 % and a maximum of 60 % quinine. Further ingredients are catechin tanning agents and triterpene type bitter substances. There must be a minimum content of 6.5 % total alkaloids.

China bark promotes the secretion of gastric juice and saliva. In addition, it has a toning effect on the entire organism, especially during convalescence after banal infections.

Cinchonae cortex can be used in accordance with the guidelines of Commission E in cases of loss of appetite and dyspeptic complaints such as flatulence and bloating.

The usual daily dose is 1 to 3 g of the drug, 0.6 to 3 g of quinafluide extract (Tinctura Chinae) with 4 to 5% total alkaloids, 0.15 to 0.6 g of quinafluide extract with 15 to 20% total alkaloids.

Rare are hypersensitivity reactions such as allergic skin reactions or fever; in rare cases there may also be an increased bleeding tendency due to thrombocytopenia.

In case of existing pregnancy, hypersensitivity to quinchoalkaloids such as quinine or quinidine, should refrain from use.

Not recommended for children under 12 years of age in the absence of data.

1. Rajan A et al.(2013) Antimalarial potential of China 30 and Chelidonium 30 in combination therapy against lethal rodent malaria parasite: Plasmodium berghei. J Complement Integr Med 10. PubMed PMID: 23652641
2. Ravishankara MN et al. (2001) HPTLC method for the estimation of alkaloids of Cinchona officinalis stem bark and its marketed formulations. Planta Med 67:294-296.
3. Sen T et al. (2015) Medicinal plants, human health and biodiversity: a broad review. Adv Biochem Eng Biotechnol. 2015;147:59-110.
4. Schilcher H (2016) Leitfaden Phytotherapie, Urban & Fischer Verlag Munich, p. 98f.
5. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/chinarindenbaum.php