 Cubeb (Piper cubeba), or tailed pepper, is a plant in genus Piper, cultivated for its fruit and essential oil. It is mostly grown in Java and Sumatra, hence sometimes called Java pepper. Commercial cubebs consist of the dried berries, similar in appearance to black pepper, but with stalks attached — the "tails" in "tailed pepper". The dried pericarp is grayish-brown, or black and wrinkled. The seed, when present, is hard, white and oily. The odor of cubebs is described as agreeable and aromatic. The taste, pungent, acrid, slightly bitter and persistent.
Cubeb came to Europe via India through the trade with the Arabs. The name cubeb comes from Arabic kababah which is of unknown origin, by way of Old French quibibes. Cubeb is mentioned in alchemical writings by its Arabic name. In his Theatrum Botanicum, John Parkinson tells that the king of Portugal prohibited the sale of cubeb in order to promote the black pepper (Piper nigrum) around 1640. It experienced a brief resurgence in 19th century Europe for medicinal uses, but has practically vanished from the European market since. It continues to be used as a flavoring agent for gins and cigarettes in the West, and as a seasoning for food in Indonesia and Africa.
In India, Sanskrit texts included cubeb in various remedies. Charaka and Sushruta prescribed a paste of cubebs as a mouthwash, or dried cubebs internally for oral and dental diseases, loss of voice, halitosis, fevers, cough. Unani physicians use a paste of the cubeb berries externally on male and female genitals to intensify sexual pleasure during coitus.
In traditional Chinese medicine cubeb is used for its alleged warming property. In Tibetan medicine, cubeb (ka ko la in Tibetan) is one of bzang po drug, six fine herbs beneficial to specific organs in the body. Cubeb is assigned for the spleen.
The Book of One Thousand and One Nights, compiled in the 9th century, mentions cubeb as a remedy for infertility, showing it was already used by Arabs for medicinal purpose. Cubeb was introduced to Arabic cuisine around 10th century. The Travels of Marco Polo, written in late 13th century, describes Java as a producer of cubeb, along with other valuable spices. In 14th century, cubeb was imported into Europe from the Grain Coast, under the name of pepper, by merchants of Rouen and Lippe. A 14th century moral tale exemplifying gluttony by the Franciscan writer Francesc Eiximenis describes the eating habits of a worldly cleric who consumes a bizarre concoction of egg yolks with cinnamon and cubeb after his baths, probably intended as an aphrodisiac.
Adulteration
The adulteration of cubebs has always been a problem, intentional or not. In addition to the true cubeb (Piper cubeba), there are numerous varieties of this species whose berries resemble cubebs. These are generally termed “False Cubebs”. Most important of the false cubebs appear to be Piper crassipes Korthals, which according to the literature has a cajuput-like odour, and Piper molissimum Blume. Apart from these false cubebs, native to Malaysia and Indonesia, there are those from Africa, Piper clusii C. DC. and Piper guineense Schum. et Thonn. These are known as “African Cubebs”. However oil of clove leaf (Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry) seems to be the most common adulterant in cubebs oil of Indonesian origin!
Properties, Indications and Uses
Uses:
Formerly used as a urinary antiseptic (37).
GRAS Cubeb essential oil has GRAS status.
Toxicity:LD50 - (oral) rat >5g/kg; (dermal) rabbit >5g/kg.
Irritation/Sensitisation - Nil at 8% (Human)
Phototoxicity - Nil reported |
