Wild quinine

Tanacetum parthenium Schulz-Bip, formerly Chrysanthemum parthenium (L.) Bernh, Leucanthemum parthenium (L.) Gren and Gordon, Pyrethum parthenium (L.) Sm also described as a member of the genus Matricaria (1,4) featherfew, altamisa, bachelor s button, featherfoil, febrifuge plant, midsummer daisy, nosebleed, Santa Maria, wild chamomile, wild quinine (1), amargosa, flirtwort, manzanilla, mutterkraut, varadika (4). 

In the middle of the 19th century, the British Empire severely faced malaria in its numerous colonies. The best treatment for malaria was quinine, which at that time was extracted from the bark of the cinchona tree growing wild in the Andes, South America. Obviously, the demand for the antimalarial drug was great, but its supply was limited and the final product was expensive. In a search for a cure for malaria by promoting chemical innovation, the Royal College of Chemistry was founded in London (now the Imperial College), Hofmann was appointed as its first director (1845-1864) and he hired Perkin, W. H., (1838-1907) as an assistant to work on the synthesis of quinine. 

Cinchona succirubra (Rubiaceae) is a tall tree that grows wild in the Andes of Peru and Brazil. It is cultivated in Java and Sumatra. The bark contains 5%-8% total alkaloids. The major alkaloid, quinine, has been used as an antimalarial agent. Cinchonidine, cinchonine, and quinidine have also been obtained. 

Bitter Bitter (quinine, alkaloids) Caustic (ethyl alcohol) Pungent (wild radish) ... 

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