General Informations
Quassia is a very attractive small evergreen shrub that is often cultivated in the tropics as an ornamental
The plant is packed with a range of powerful medically active phytochemicals for which it is harvested from the wild and also grown
The bitter principle found in the bark and wood is used as the basis of Angostura Bitters, which is used as a flavouring in gin-based drinks
It is also used as a substitute for hops when brewing beer
All parts of the plant contain a bitter principle called quassimarin. This has a range of medical properties including antileukaemic, antitumor, astringent, digestive, febrifuge, laxative, tonic and vermifuge
