Quassia amara (Kina) : medicinal properties in alcoholic extraction

Quassia amara (Kina) — family Rubiacées.

Recognised external sources linked to this monograph: TRAMIL and French Pharmacopoeia.

This database documents alcoholic (ethanol) extractions of active substances. Our monograph currently lists 5 indications in alcoholic extraction for this species. The monograph draws on 66 scientific references recorded for the species.

Therapeutic indications in alcoholic extraction:

Note: scientific reference excerpts are kept in their original language (most often English), without translation, to respect the source text of publications.

1. Osteoarthritis, arthritis, rheumatism, oedema : Plant part used: Bark. Documented pharmacological profile: Indometacine-like.
   Selon TOMA W (2003) : However, when administered intraperitoneally, the HEX extract decreased the paw edema induced by carrageenan, showed antinociceptive effects on the hot-plate test & on acetic acid-induced writhing, & showed sedative effects on pentobarbital-induced sleep. Selon Fiaschetti G (2011) : Many molecules display a wide range of inhibitory effects, including anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-malarial & anti-proliferative effects on various tumor cell types. These molecules gained notoriety after the initial discovery of the anti-leukemic activity of one member, bruceantin, in 1975.
2. Head lice : Plant part used: Pest control and veterinary products. Documented pharmacological profile: Clophenothane-like.
   Selon Jensen O (1978) : 454 patients were treated with quassia tincture for head lice. At examination one week later only three patients had hatched lice. Selon Auteur (1991) : Prophylaxis & treatment of pediculosis with Quassia amarga.
3. Fungal infection : Plant part used: Bark.
   Selon Diehl C (2016) : Contrarily, QWE had no effect on the growth of Chlamydia trachomatis, but uniquely altered the morphology & quantity of chlamydial inclusions.To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that QWE is shown to have antiparasitic activity on Trichomonas vaginalis & Demodex spp, an antifungal activity on Malassezia furfur & Candida spp & an antibacterial activity on P. krusei, the latest at a lesser extent, & Malassezia furfur isolated from samples of infected patients, inhibiting the growth of fungi in both a time- & dose-dependent manner.The antibacterial activity of QWE was demonstrated in cultures of P. Selon AJAIYEOBA EO (2003) : AJAIYEOBA EO et al, Antibacterial & antifungal activities of Quassia undulata & Quassia amara extracts in vitro.

Further indications (including other extraction modes where applicable), dosages, precautions for use and full scientific references are available in the complete monograph.

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