Definition

1. Noun:
   • An alkaloid compound: Cinchonine is a naturally occurring alkaloid substance.
   • Derived from cinchona bark: It is specifically obtained from the bark of cinchona trees.
   • Used as an antimalarial drug: It possesses medicinal properties effective against malaria.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Cinchonine is one of several alkaloids found in cinchona bark.
  • Before the development of synthetic drugs, cinchonine was used to treat malaria.
  • The isolation of cinchonine from the bark is a complex chemical process.

Advanced Usage

• Pharmaceutical context: Cinchonine is often discussed in pharmacology and the history of medicine as a precursor to more modern antimalarial treatments.
  • The study compared the efficacy of cinchonine with that of its stereoisomer, quinine.

Variants and Related Words

• Cinchona (n): The genus of trees whose bark is the source of cinchonine and other alkaloids.
• Quinine (n): A closely related and more widely known antimalarial alkaloid also derived from cinchona bark.
• Alkaloid (n): The broader class of naturally occurring chemical compounds to which cinchonine belongs.

Synonyms

• Antimalarial alkaloid: A descriptive synonym highlighting its medicinal use and chemical class.

Notes on Meaning

• Cinchonine refers specifically to the chemical compound itself. It is not typically used in general conversation but is a technical term in chemistry, botany, and medical history.

Noun

1. an alkaloid derivative of the bark of cinchona trees that is used as an antimalarial drug