The cinchona alkaloids are extremely bitter tasting. Concentrations in the 100 to 300 ppm range are used to flavor beverages such as tonic water. Tonic water contains about 15 mg of quinine per bottle. 14 Quinine may have tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-suppressive activity as demonstrated in one small study.
Skinks are the most common type of lizard native to Florida, and numerous species enjoy the mild, subtropical Florida climate. The southeastern five-lined skink is one of the most numerous off all skink species and can be found in nearly every part of Florida.
Living in Florida, we have to share our space with a very large reptile, the American alligator (Alligator mississipiensis). Because of Florida's booming population growth, people and alligators are constantly forced to cross paths, increasing the chances of conflict. Knowing where alligators live, how they behave and what you can do to avoid conflict with alligators is key to sharing space safely (Figure 1).