PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

The phorbol esters of the oils are severe co-carcinogenics.

Therapeutic uses as well as skin or mucous membrane

.contacts with the drug are to be strictly^3 avoided. The drug

A possesses acute toxicity. When applied to the skin, it brings

about itching, burning and after a time, blisters. If taken

internally, it leads to burning in the mouth, vomiting,

dizziness, stupor, painful bowel movements and ultimately to

collapse.

OVERDOSAGE

One to 2 drops are already acutely toxic; the lethal dosage is

put at 20 drops. After stomach and intestinal emptying,

treatment of poisonings can only proceed symptomatically.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Croton Seed oil is obsolete as drug

LITERATURE

Berenblum I, Shubik P. (1947) Brit J Cancer 1:379.

Evans FJ (Ed.), Naturally Occurring Phorbol Esters, CRC Press

1986.

Evans FJ. Taylor SE, (1983) Prog Chem Org Nat Prod 44:1.

& Hecker E, (1968) Cancer Res 28:2338.

McEchean CE et al., J Chem Soc 166B:633. 1966.

Nishizuka Y, (1984) Nature 308:693.

Further information in:

Chan, EH et al., (Eds): Advances in Chinese Medicinal

Materials Research, World Scientific Pub. Co. Singapore 1985.

Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der

Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde 1-8, Springer Verlag

Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.

Lewin L, Gifte und Vergiftungen, 6. Aufl., Nachdruck, Haug

Verlag, Heidelberg 1992.

Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,

Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.

Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,

4. Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
   Steinegger E, Hansel R, Pharmakognosie, 5. Aufl., Springer
   Verlag Heidelberg 1992.

4^ Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,
Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.
Wagner H, Wiesenauer M, Phytotherapie. Phytopharmaka und
pflanzliche Homoopathika, Fischer-Verlag, Stuttgart, Jena, New
York 1995.

Croton tiglium

See Croton Seeds

CUBEB/235

Cubeb

Piper cubeba

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the dried, not fully

ripe fruit.

Flower and Fruit: The male flowering spikes are about 4 cm

long and have 2 or 3 stamens. The female spikes are made up

of about 50 individual flowers, which mostly consist of the

oblong ovary of 4 fused carpels with 4 sessile stigmas. The

infructescence is 4 to 5 cm long. When ripe, the base of the

ovary grows into a stem-like, cylindrical lower part. The

upper portion of the fruit is globular and holds the seed,

which contains a tiny embryo in a small cavity at the apex.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a 5 to 15 m high

dioecious climbing shrub. The branches are initially pubes-

cent, later glabrous. The leaves are glabrous, entire-mar-

gined, coriaceous, ovate to oblong-elliptical and up to 15 cm

long and 6 cm wide.

Characteristics: The odor is warm and reminiscent of

turpentine.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to Indonesia and is

cultivated in Sri Lanka, India and Malaysia.

Production: Cubebs are the fruit of Piper cubeba. The fruit is

harvested when still green and dried in the sun.

Other Names: Java Pepper, Tailed Cubebs, Tailed Pepper

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Volatile oil (10 to 20%): chief constituents alpha- and beta-

cubebenes (11%), copaene (10%), cubebol (10%), delta-

cadinene (9%), humulenes

Lignans: chief components (-)-cubebin, additionally (-)-

cubebinin, dihydroclusin, (-)-dihydrocubebin, hinokinin

Resins

Fatty oil (12%)

EFFECTS

The sesquiterpene-rich essential oil is said to be expectorant

in chronic bronchitis. The resinous acids in the drug are said

to have an antiseptic and astringent effect on the urinary

tract. There is no information on the mode of action.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Folk medicine uses include treatment for

urinary tract diseases, flatulence and stomach complaints,

headaches (dizziness), chronic bronchitis, to increase libido

and for poor memory.