commonly called cubeb berry, with its at-
tached peduncle or stem (hence also called
tailed pepper); cubeb oil is produced by steam
distillation of the crushed fruits, usually in
Europe and in the United States.
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
Fruits contain 10–20% volatile oil; about
2.5% cubebin;^1 1–1.7% amorphous cubebic
acid of undetermined structure; an acidic resin
and 3–3.7% neutral resins, 8% gum; fats; and
others (JIANGSU;LIST AND HO ̈RHAMMER).
The essential oil contains mainly sesqui-
terpenes and monoterpenes and their alcohols,
with their relative concentrations varying
considerably according to different reports.
Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons present include
caryophyllene, cadinene,a- andb-cubebene,^2
copaene, and 1-isopropyl-4-methylene-7-
methyl-1,2,3,6,7,8,9-heptahydronaphthalein;
monoterpene hydrocarbons including sabi-
nene, a-thujene, b-phellandrene, a-pinene,
myrcene,b-pinene,a-phellandrene,g- and
a-terpinene, limomene, and ocimene,
among others;^3 oxygenated terpenes include
1,4-cineole,a-terpineol, cadinol, and cube-
bol; and others (JIANGSU;LIST AND HO ̈RHAMMER;
STAHL).1,4
PHARMACOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL
ACTIVITIES
Fruit is reported to have local stimulant effect
on mucous membranes (urinary and respira-
tory tract). Cubebic acid (not cubebin) is
mainly responsible for its physiological prop-
erties (JIANGSU).
Ground cubeb was found 90% clinically
effective in treating amebic dysentery
(JIANGSU).
Cubeb oil has been reported to exhibit
antiviral activities in rats as well as weak
to strong antibacterial activitiesin vitro;it
also has certain urinary antiseptic properties
(JIANGSU;MERCK).^5USESMedicinal, Pharmaceutical, and Cosmetic.
Berry and oil have been used in diuretic and
urinary antiseptic preparations. Oil is used as a
fragrance component in soaps, detergents,
creams, lotions, and perfumes, with highest
maximum use level of 0.8% reported in per-
fumes.^5 Also used in flavoring tobacco.Food. Oil is used as a flavor ingredient in
most major categories of food products, in-
cluding alcoholic (liqueurs) and nonalcoholic
beverages, frozen dairy desserts, candy, baked
goods, gelatins and puddings, meat and meat
products, condiments and relishes, and others.
Highest average maximum use level reported
is about 0.004% (38.2 ppm) in condiments
and relishes. Fruits are reportedly used only
in nonalcoholic beverages at an average max-
imum use level of 0.085%.Traditional Medicine. Used as a diuretic,
urinary antiseptic, carminative, and stimulat-
ing expectorant, among others. Also used in
treating gonorrhea and cancer.^6COMMERCIAL PREPARATIONSCrude and oil. Crude was formerly official in
N.F., and oil is official in F.C.C.Regulatory Status. Has been approved for
food use (§172.510).REFERENCES
See the General References forARCTANDER;BRUNETON;FEMA;GRIEVE;GUENTHER;JIANGSU;LUST;MASADA;
TERRELL.
234 Cubebs