Kalisaya represents one of 23 species of the plant genus Cinchona (cinchona trees). It was originally native only to South America, where it was used by indigenous people as a medicinal plant against malaria. Today, cinchona trees play a major role only for cinchona production.
Occurrence and cultivation of the Kalisaya
Kalisaya can grow very tall as a tree. In barren locations, it also appears as a shrub-like plant. The scientific name for kalisaya is Cinchona calisaya. The plant belongs to the cinchona family. Kalisaya can grow very tall as a tree. In barren locations, it also appears as a shrub-like plant. It has a bark that is yellowish to light brown in the lower part and often reddish on the branches. Furthermore, it forms elongated dark green shiny and stalked leaves, which are located on the branches. The pink flowers also grow on stems and form five petals each. Originally, the cinchona trees were only common in South America. However, in the course of the colonization of the continents, they were also cultivated in Central Africa, Indonesia and India due to their healing properties against malaria and their antipyretic effect. However, the name Chinese bark has nothing to do with China, but was derived from the name kina-kina from the Quechua language. There it means as much as bark of the barks. Cinchona calisaya is not considered the official cinchona bark. This is referred to as Chinchona officinalis. However, much of the official cinchona bark is obtained from calisaya. After World War II, the importance of cinchona bark has greatly diminished because synthetic agents for malaria and fever have been developed. Partially, the bark of kalisaya is still used in stomach tea mixtures. It also still has some importance in homeopathy.
Effect and application
The main active ingredient of all cinchona trees, and thus also of kalisaya, is quinine. In addition to quinine, it also contains the active ingredients quinidine and cinchonidine. However, it was found that not all species of the genus cinchona trees possess these active ingredients in equal amounts. Thus, the content of the active ingredients in Cinchona calisaya proved to be insufficient to ensure economic isolation. Mainly the species Cinchona ledgeriana was used for the extraction of quinine until after the Second World War. Thereafter, quinine lost its importance in favor of synthetically produced antimalarial agents such as chloroquine and primaquine. Today, however, the synthetic active ingredients are proving to be able to develop resistance to the malaria pathogens. The development of resistance to quinine, however, is very low. Malaria is caused by so-called schizonts. The schizont represents a developmental stage of plasmodia. Quinine has a killing effect against schizonts without resistance developing. Due to the increasing development of resistance through the use of synthetic agents, quinine is now being used again more frequently for the treatment of malaria. It is still obtained from the bark of cinchona trees. Quinine inhibits the enzyme heme polymerase, which is produced by plasmodia. Hämpolymerase is responsible for the life-threatening breakdown of hemoglobin in the blood. As a result of heme polymerase inhibition, the pathogens that cause malaria are damaged by quinine. The action of quinine is based on its binding to proteins. Since other important proteins are also blocked, overdoses of quinine cause side effects. However, quinine is almost completely metabolized in the liver and then excreted renally. Another active ingredient of Kalisaya and all other cinchona trees is quinidine. Its action is based on the fact that it binds to open sodium channels, decreases potassium conductance, and inhibits calcium channels of the heart muscles. Therefore, it is used as an antiarrhythmic agent in atrial fibrillation. The cinchona bark, including the kalisaya, is the only source of quinine today. However, it no longer plays a role for herbal medicine due to its natural use.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
Quinine bark including kalisaya, as mentioned above, used to be the main medicinal plant against malaria and fever in South America. Meanwhile, the development of other antimalarial drugs has led to a reduction in its importance as a medicinal plant. However, the active ingredient quinine, which is extracted from cinchona bark, is again gaining in medical importance.In homeopathy Kalisaya still plays an important role. As a medicinal plant it was mainly used for fever. Its antimalarial effect was recognized early. It also has antispasmodic and analgesic effects. It is also used for stomach problems, calf cramps and muscle spasms. Quinine bark trees have special importance for the extraction of quinine and quinidine. Quinine is again more often used in the fight against malaria, especially malaria tropica. It also proves to be effective against flu-like infections due to its anesthetic and antipyretic properties. A special field of application is its use in the so-called babesiosis. This is an infection with unicellular spore animals, which are transmitted to the organism via ticks. Babesiosis is manifested by flu-like symptoms. Treatment is by oral administration of quinine and clindamycin. However, quinine can also cause such side effects as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, allergic reactions, toxic effects on the nervous system or cardiac arrhythmias. Quinine bark preparations also produce the same effects in case of overdose. Contraindications to quinine include tinnitus, optic nerve disorders, or pregnancy. Excessive doses may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, vomiting, ringing in the ears, insomnia, tremors, and restlessness. This is a so-called quinine intoxication, which can also be caused by excessive administration of cinchona bark. In some people, even the slightest contact with kalisaya or other cinchona trees produces intoxication symptoms or hives, edema, and skin bleeding.
