Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 5

Quinine is a well-established antimalarial agent with a long history of use backed by scientific evidence. Extracted from the bark of the cinchona tree, quinine was the first effective treatment for malaria and has been used since the 17th century. Its antimalarial activity was scientifically validated in the 19th and 20th centuries, leading to widespread use for both treatment and prophylaxis of malaria, especially before the advent of newer antimalarial drugs.

Quinine works by interfering with the parasite's ability to digest hemoglobin in red blood cells, thereby inhibiting the growth and replication of Plasmodium species, particularly P. falciparum, the deadliest malaria parasite. Clinical trials and decades of clinical use have confirmed its efficacy, and quinine remains recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the treatment of severe malaria or when artemisinin-based therapies are unavailable or contraindicated.

However, quinine use is associated with notable side effects, such as cinchonism (tinnitus, headache, nausea), and more severe reactions like hypoglycemia and cardiac arrhythmias, which has led to its replacement by safer and more effective drugs in many settings. Nonetheless, the scientific basis for its antimalarial action is solid, and it continues to play a critical role in malaria management in specific scenarios.

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