It is the main cure for all forms of malaria and has very strongly influenced the advancement of medicine, chemistry, and pharmacies. Sebastiano Bado said in 1650, “This bark is worth more than gold or silver.” Ramazzini said in the 1700s, “The introduction of Peruvian bark is of the same importance to medicine as gunpowder was to warfare.”

Jesuit’s bark originates in Peru. Its leaves are opposite and rounded, growing from 10-40cm long. They have a small berrylike fruit that contains numerous seeds. The family, Rubiaceae, grows to the size of 5-15 meters or the size of large shrubs and small trees.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, immense quantities were harvested formed the beginning of the production of cinchona alkaloids. This production was carried on in Germany and they were supplied with the raw minerals from Java, Ceylon, and India. When we use quinine, the main active principle, nowadays we chemically synthesize it. The name quinine comes from the term ghina or quina-quina used by Peruvian indians for the bark. These terms mean medicine of medicines or bark of barks.