Du Mez—The Galenical Oleoresins. 
1053 
lies. The green color of the fatty oil as observed by the same 
investigator is stated to be due to chlorophyll. 
Ash. According to E. Schmidt, 30 the ash of the cubeb fruit is 
composed of the basic elements, K, Ca, Mg, and Fe in combina¬ 
tion with the acid radicles Cl', S0 4 ", PO/", C0 3 " and Si0 3 ", 
also free Si0 2 . 
Cubeb fruits yield about 5.5 to 6.0 per cent, of ash. 31 
Constituents of Therapeutic Importance. 
The value of the oleoresin of cubeb as a therapeutic agent is 
very probably due to its resin content. In addition to its 
diuretic action, the acid resin is said to render the urine feebly 
antiseptic and to act as an astringent. * 1 Cubebin has been shown 
to be physiologically inactive passing through the intestines 
unabsorbed. 2 The volatile oil is stated to act merely as a car¬ 
minative 3 and its presence is even considered by some to be un¬ 
desirable 4 owing to its irritating action. 
Physical Properties 
Ash. According to E. Schmidt, 30 the ash of the cubeb fruit is 
directed by the United States Pharmacopoeia has a grass-green 
color when spread out in a thin layer on a white porcelain sur¬ 
face. The commercial product, however, is often brownish-green 
or brown in color due to the use of the ripe fruit 5 in its manu¬ 
facture. In such cases, the desired green color is sometimes im¬ 
parted to the preparation by the addition of copper salts. 6 
Odor: The oleoresin has a strong aromatic odor like that of 
the crushed cubeb fruit. In fact, the odor is so strongly aro¬ 
matic that unevaporated solvent (alcohol), even when present 
in considerable amounts, cannot be detected by the sense of 
smell. 
30 Arch. d. Pharm. (1870). 191, p. 11. 
31 Schmidt obtained only 3.36 per cent of ash, l. c. 
Warnecke reports the yield of ash as 5.45 per cent. Pharm. Ztg. (1886), 
31, p. 536. 
La Wall and Bradshaw give the ash content of two samples of cubeb as 
5.70 and 6.10 per cent., respectively. Proc. A. Ph. A. (1910), 58, p. 751. 
1 Vieth, Med. Klin. (1905), p. 1276. 
2 Heffter, Arch. f. Exp. Path. u. Pharm. (1895), 35, p. 371. 
3 Heydenreich, Am. Journ. Pharm. (1868), 40, p. 42. 
4 Bernatzik, Buchner’s neues Repert. (1865), 14, p. 97. 
“ See under “Drug used, its collection, preservation, etc.” 
* Bedall (1894). 
