From the bark of the Cinchona tree, which famous antimalarial drug is obtained and used to treat malaria?

Introduction / Context:

Many important medicines have been discovered from plants that were originally used in traditional healing systems. The Cinchona tree is a classic example because its bark contains compounds that are effective against malaria. Understanding which drug comes from Cinchona is common general knowledge, especially in questions relating to medicinal plants and tropical diseases. This question asks the learner to identify the well known antimalarial drug obtained from Cinchona bark.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The plant source is the Cinchona tree, a genus of trees native to South America.
• The question is about a drug used to cure malaria.
• Options include several names, only one of which is a widely known antimalarial.
• We assume basic awareness that Cinchona bark has been historically important in malaria treatment.

Concept / Approach:

Quinine is an alkaloid extracted from the bark of the Cinchona tree. It has been used for centuries to treat malaria, especially before the development of modern synthetic antimalarial drugs. The discovery of quinine marked a major step in the control of malaria in many regions. Other names in the options are either variations related to plant species or unrelated drug names, but quinine is the correct established name of the antimalarial compound obtained from Cinchona bark.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Recall that Cinchona bark has medicinal value and is famous for containing an antimalarial compound. Step 2: Identify quinine as the classical antimalarial drug derived from this bark. Step 3: Recognise that quinine has been historically used in tonic water and tablets for malaria treatment. Step 4: Compare all options and note that only quinine is a standard drug name used in medical practice. Step 5: Select quinine as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:

Pharmacology and botany references describe Cinchona bark as a source of quinine and related alkaloids. Historical texts on medicine explain how quinine was crucial for European colonisation of malaria prone regions because it allowed prevention and treatment of the disease. Modern discussions of antimalarial drugs mention quinine as an older but still recognised treatment. None of the other options appear in standard lists of antimalarial drugs derived from Cinchona, which supports quinine as the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Option A, Camptothea, is not the established name of the classic antimalarial compound from Cinchona bark. Option B, Acuminata, may resemble the species name Cinchona acuminata but is not the drug used for malaria. Option D, Cinchonia, looks similar to the genus name but does not refer to the active alkaloid. Option E, Atropine, is a different alkaloid obtained from plants like Atropa belladonna and is used for various cardiac and ophthalmic purposes, not for treating malaria.

Common Pitfalls:

Students may get confused by names that sound similar to Cinchona and may pick an option just because it resembles the plant name. Others may have heard of quinine in the context of tonic water but not connect it to Cinchona. To avoid such mistakes, it helps to remember two classic plant drug pairs: Cinchona and quinine for malaria, and willow bark and salicin for aspirin. These associations often appear together in exam preparation material.

Final Answer:

The antimalarial drug obtained from the bark of the Cinchona tree is Quinine.