Quinine is toxic at over 3 g, quinidine at 1 g.
Related Cinchona sp.: C. calisaya Wedd. (Nilgiris and Sikkim); C. calisaya Wedd. var. ledgeriana How. (West Bengal, Khasi Hills and Tamil Nadu); and C. succirubra Pay. ex Klotz.
(Nilgiris and Annamalis in Tamil Nadu, Sikkim and West Bengal).
The bark of all the species contain quinine, quinidine, cinchonine and cinchonidine and exhibit antimalarial activity. The alcoholic extract of C. ledgeriana Moens ex Trimen bark exhibits antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria comparable to sodium penicillin. The extract, however, exhibits lesser activity than dihydrostreptomycin sulphate against Gram-negative bacteria.
Cinnamomum camphora
(Linn.) Nees & Eberm.
Family Lauraceae.
Habitat A tree native to China and Japan and often grown as a hedge plant.
English Camphor tree.
Ayurvedic Karpura, Ghanasaara, Chandra, Chandra Prabhaa, Sitaabhra, Hima-valukaa, Himopala, Himakara, Shashi, Indu, Tushaara, Gandhadravya, Shital raja.
Unani Kaafoor.
Siddha/Tamil Indu, Karupporam.
Action Camphor taken internally in small doses (toxic in large doses) acts as a carminative, reflex expectorant and reflex stimulant of heart and circulation as well as respiration. Also used as a sedative and nervous depressant in convulsions, hysteria, epilepsy, chorea. Topically used as a rubefacient and mild analgesic.
Cinnamomum cassia Blume. 149
Key application Externally in
catarrhal diseases of the respiratory tract and muscular rheumatism;
internally in hypotonic circulatory regulation disorders, Catarrhal
diseases of the respiratory tract. (German Commission E.)
The plant contains a volatile oil comprising camphor, safrole, linalool, eugenol and terpeneol. It also contains lignans (including secoisosolariciresinol dimethyl ether and kusunokiol). Safrole is thought to be carcinogenic.
The leaf oil is a natural source of linalool (94.9%); also contained citronellal (2.4%).
Camphor in concentration of 500 mcg!ml completely inhibits the growth of vibro parahaemolyticus, one of the causative agents of diarrhoea and dysentery. Ethanolic extract (50%) of fruits show
