Quinine: meaning, definitions and examples
๐
quinine
[ หkwษชnaษชn ]
medicine use
Quinine is a medication that is primarily used for treating malaria, a disease caused by parasites transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. It works by interfering with the growth and reproduction of the malaria parasite in the red blood cells. Quinine has also been used historically to treat nighttime leg cramps and certain types of arrhythmias, although these uses are now less common. Quinine is derived from the bark of the cinchona tree and has a bitter taste, which led to its use in tonic water.
Synonyms
antimalarial, chinchona, cinchona.
Examples of usage
- She took quinine to prevent malaria.
- Quinine was once the only effective treatment for malaria.
- The tonic water contained quinine, which gave it a distinct flavor.
- Doctors prescribed quinine for her chronic leg cramps.
- He learned about the historical use of quinine in his pharmacology class.
Translations
Translations of the word "quinine" in other languages:
๐ต๐น quinina
๐ฎ๐ณ เคเฅเคตเคฟเคจเคพเคเคจ
๐ฉ๐ช Chinin
๐ฎ๐ฉ kinin
๐บ๐ฆ ั ัะฝัะฝ
๐ต๐ฑ chinina
๐ฏ๐ต ใญใใผใ
๐ซ๐ท quinine
๐ช๐ธ quina
๐น๐ท kinin
๐ฐ๐ท ํค๋
๐ธ๐ฆ ุงูููููู
๐จ๐ฟ chinina
๐ธ๐ฐ chinรญn
๐จ๐ณ ๅฅๅฎ
๐ธ๐ฎ kinin
๐ฎ๐ธ kรญnรญn
๐ฐ๐ฟ ั ะธะฝะธะฝ
๐ฌ๐ช แฅแแแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ kinin
๐ฒ๐ฝ quinina
Etymology
The term 'quinine' originates from the Latin word 'quina,' referring to the cinchona tree's bark from which it is derived. This bark was used by indigenous people in South America for centuries as a treatment for fevers and other ailments. European colonizers in the 17th century discovered this use and brought it back to Europe, where it gained popularity as a potent treatment for malaria. By the 19th century, quinine became widely recognized as the primary treatment for the disease, leading to its industrial production and widespread use in tonic water to mask its bitter taste. Its importance in medicine continued into the 20th century, although the development of synthetic antimalarial drugs has reduced its prevalence in recent years. The historical significance of quinine not only lies in its medical use but also in its role in the spread of European colonization in tropical regions where malaria was prevalent.