ScienceAugust 8, 2026
quinine
KWY-nine
Definition
A bitter-tasting crystalline compound originally derived from the bark of the Cinchona tree, used historically as the primary treatment and preventive medication for malaria.
Etymology
The word is derived from the Quechua word 'quina' or 'kinakina', which refers to the bark of the Cinchona tree. It entered English in the 19th century via French to describe the alkaloid extracted from that bark.
In the news
In the article, quinine is identified as the vital resource that the Allied forces lost access to when Japanese forces seized the Dutch East Indies, necessitating the urgent development of synthetic alternatives.
Lillian Eichelberger: Helped Establish Medical Ethics in Post WWII America
Read the full article ↗Substack