The natural resource obtained from the bark of the cinchona tree is quinine, a compound historically used to treat malaria. The cinchona tree, native to South America, has bark that contains alkaloids, with quinine being the most notable. Quinine was the first effective treatment for malaria, revolutionizing its management, particularly during the 19th century, when it was widely used by colonizers in malaria-prone areas. Though synthetic alternatives exist today, quinine is still used in some medical applications and is also famously added to tonic water, which pairs well with gin in cocktails.