Quinine is an alkaloid used to treat uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. An alkaloid derived from the bark of the cinchona tree.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed
The theorized mechanism of action for quinine and related anti-malarial drugs is that these drugs are toxic to the malaria parasite. Specifically, the drugs interfere with the parasite's ability to break down and digest hemoglobin. Consequently, the parasite starves and/or builds up toxic levels of partially degraded hemoglobin in itself.
- Primary indication
- For the treatment of malaria and leg crampsCurator reviewed · 1 structured indication
- Formula / weight
- C20H24N2O2 · 324.4168 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 2000 · United States, 2005
- Also known as
- (8S,9R)-quinine · 6'-Methoxycinchonidine · Chinine
- Code names
- GLS-1200 · NSC-757298 · WR297608
- Brand names
Resolves to
Clinical / RWD
Structure
InChIKey
LOUPRKONTZGTKE-WZBLMQSHSA-NSMILES[H][C@]1(C[C@@H]2CC[N@]1C[C@@H]2C=C)[C@H](O)C1=CC=NC2=CC=C(OC)C=C12Targets
What you can answer from here — as of September 23, 2026
10Protein targetsEach mapped to UniProt, with action and pharmacological actionListed above
7TransportersSubstrate / inhibitor direction, not just membershipListed above
Which drugs share a target with Quinine, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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