Cubeb. The unripe fruit of Piper Cubeba Linné filices (Nat. Ord. Piperaceae). (U. S. P.) Cubébes, Fr.; Cubeben, Ger.

Extractum Cubebae Fluidum

Fluid extract of cubeb. Dose, 3 ss — 3 ij.

Oleum Cubebae

Oil of cubeb. Dose, τη v— 3 ss.

Oleo-resina Cubebae

Oleo-resin of cubeb. Dose, τη v— 3 ss.

Tinctura Cubebae

Tincture of cubeb. Dose, 3 ss—3 ij.

Trochisci Cubebae

Troches of cubeb.

Composition

Cubeb contains a volatile oil which varies in proportion from six to fifteen per cent. It is polymeric with oil of turpentine. This volatile oil separates in the cold into two distinct substances —a camphoraceous substance (cubebene), and a liquid portion (cubeben). Besides these, a neutral crystallizable principle (cubebin) has been isolated. Cubeb also contains a resin, divisible into two distinct substances, an indifferent portion and an acid (cubebic acid). The therapeutical properties of the drug reside chiefly, if not exclusively, in the oil and resin, hence the oleo-resin is an efficient preparation.

Actions and Uses

The taste of cubeb is aromatic, pungent, and somewhat camphoraceous. In the stomach it excites a sensation of warmth, and, in moderate doses, promotes the appetite and the digestive capacity. In considerable doses it is laxative, and produces a feeling of heat and irritation about the rectum. Ingested in a large quantity, cubeb sets up a gastro-intestinal catarrh, and may even cause acute inflammatory symptoms. The active principles diffuse into the blood. The action of the heart and vascular system is increased by cubeb, the surface becomes warm and perspiring under its use, and the bronchial and urinary secretions are more abundant. The odor of cubeb is imparted to the breath and to the urine, and the resin may be precipitated from the urine by the addition of nitric acid. As explained in the previous article (Copaiba), the resin precipitated by nitric acid resembles albumen, but differs from the latter substance in being soluble in alcohol.

Cubeb stimulates the venereal appetite in man, and promotes the catamenial flux in women.

Finely-powdered cubeb is an efficient local application in chronic nasal catarrh. It is blown into the nares by an insufflator. It gives considerable relief also in hay-asthma, when there is no fever, and the secretion of the nasal mucous membrane is profuse and watery. Powdered cubeb is useful as a topical application when the mucous membrane of the fauces is relaxed, or the seat of chronic inflammation (follicular pharyngitis). The official cubeb-troches are employed by singers and public readers, to maintain the tonicity of the mucous membrane and to prevent or relieve hoarseness.

Cubeb may also be used, in small doses, to promote secretion and increase digestion in cases of atonic dyspepsia. Chronic catarrh of the colon and rectum, with a relaxed condition of the mucous membrane and of the inferior haemorrhoidal vessels, may be removed by cubeb. Sometimes these cases take the form of a mucous dysentery.

The most important application of cubeb is in the treatment of gonorrhoea. Unlike copaiba, it may be administered with good effect during the acute stage. The best results are obtained from a mixture of the two agents. Catarrh of the bladder, prostorrhoea, spermatorrhoea, are maladies in which cubeb may be employed with more or less advantage. When the sexual appetite is weak, and the erections feeble, cubeb will sometimes, if the troubles are functional, remove them.

Irritability of the bladder, nervous or functional in character, especially as it occurs in women, is generally relieved by cubeb; but can tharides is a more efficient remedy for this troublesome affection.

In chronic bronchial affections, with profuse expectoration, cubeb has a remedial effect similar to that possessed by copaiba, and is useful under the same conditions.