USES. Almost solely as a flavoring agent. Vanillin has been suggested as a stomachic and an excito-motor remedy. CUBEB. The dried unripe, but fully grown, fruit of Piper Cubeba Linné filius (Fam. Piperacea). Habitat.-Java; cultivated. CHARACTERS.-From 10 to 13 mm. long, the upper portion globoidal, about 4 or 5 mm. in diameter, contracted at the base into a rounded stipe about 6 or 8 mm. long; pericarp reticulately wrinkled, blackishgray, internally light brown, smooth, oily, one-seeded, brittle; odor strong, spicy; taste aromatic and pungent. Resembling Cubeb.-Pepper and Pimenta; neither has a stalk. COMPOSITION.--The chief constituents are (1) The volatile oil, 5 to 15 per cent. (see below). (2) The Oleoresin, 6 per cent. (see below), which contains Cubebin, a white, crystalline, odorless substance, and Cubebic Acid. (5) A little Piperine. Dose, 1 gm.; 15 gr. Preparations. 1. Fluidextractum Cubebæ.-Fluidextract of Cubeb. By maceration and percolation with Alcohol, and evaporation. Dose, 1 c.c.; 15 m. 2. Oleoresina Cubebæ.-Oleoresin of Cubeb. SOURCE. By percolation with Alcohol; distil off, and evaporate the Alcohol. Oleoresin of Cubeb is used to make Trochisci Cubebæ. 3. Trochisci Cubebæ.-Troches of Cubeb. Oleoresin of Cubeb, 2; Oil of Sassafras, 1; Extract of Glycyrrhiza, 25; Acacia, 12 gm.; Syrup of Tolu, sufficient quantity to make 100 troches. Each troche contains .02 c.c.; % m., of the Oleoresin. Unofficial Preparation. Tinctura Cubebæ (U. S. P., 1890).—Tincture of Cubeb. Cubeb, 200. By maceration and percolation with Alcohol to 1000. Dose, 2 to 12 c.c.; 1/2 to 3 fl. dr. OLEUM CUBEBÆ.-Oil of Cubeb. A volatile oil distilled from Cubeb. It should be kept in well-stoppered bottles, in a cool place, protected from light. CHARACTERS.-A colorless, pale greenish, or yellowish liquid, having the characteristic odor of Cubeb, and a warm, camphoraceous, aromatic taste. Sp. gr., 0.905 to 0.925. Solubility.-Soluble in an equal volume of Alcohol. COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are (1) Cubeb Camphor, CHO, a Stearopten. (2) Two oils, C1H. (3) A small amount of a Terpene. Dose, 0.5 c.c.; 8 m. ACTION. Rubefacient; irritant to the stomach; diuretic; like other volatile oils, it causes some cardiac stimulation and also stimulates the functions of the organs by which it is excreted; sometimes produces a papular or erythematous rash. Its chief action is on the mucous membrane of the genito-urinary tract, which is both stimulated and disinfected by it. Its resinous acid is believed to aid the effects of the oil in its action upon the renal epithelium, as well as the bronchial mucous membrane. USES. Gonorrhoea; gleet; functional irritability of the bladder; chronic cystitis; nocturnal enuresis; chronic catarrh of the colon and rectum; asthma, hay fever, nasal catarrh, pharyngitis, bronchitis, and various other affections of the respiratory passages. PIPER. PEPPER. Synonym.-Black Pepper. The dried unripe fruit of Piper nigrum Linné (Fam. Piperacea). Habitat.-India; cultivated in the tropics. CHARACTERS.-Globular, 4 to 5 mm. in diameter, reticulately wrinkled, brownish-black, or grayish-black, internally lighter, hollow, with an undeveloped embryo; odor aromatic; taste pungently spicy. Resembling Black Pepper.-Pimenta, which has a calyx; Cubeb, which is stalked. COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are- -(1) An Oleoresin, readily yielding a volatile oil (1 to 2 per cent.), with the odor of pepper, and a resin. (2) Piperine (see below), 6 to 8 per cent. Dose, 0.500 gm. (500 milligm.); 71⁄2 gr. Preparation. Oleoresina Piperis.-Oleoresin of Pepper. By percolation with Acetone, distillation and evaporation of the residue. Dose, 0.030 gm. (30 milligm.); 1⁄2 gr. PIPERINA.-Piperine. C17H19NO3 = 283.04. A neutral principle obtained from Pepper, and obtainable also from other plants of the family Piperaceæ. CHARACTERS.-Colorless or pale yellowish, shining, monoclinic crystals, odorless and almost tasteless when first put in the mouth, but on prolonged contact producing a sharp and bitter sensation. Permanent in the air. Solubility.-Insoluble in water; soluble in 15 parts of Alcohol, 36 of Ether, and 1.7 of Chloroform. Isomeric with Morphine, it decomposes into Piperic Acid, C12HO1, and a liquid Alkaloid Piperidine, C,H,,N. Dose, 0.200 gm. (200 milligm.); 3 gr. ACTION. Similar to that of other substances containing volatile oils; it is reputed to be feebly antipyretic and antiperiodic. USES. As a condiment; as a gargle for relaxed conditions of the throat; flatulence; rectal diseases; cholera; malarial fevers; externally, as a counter-irritant. MATICO. MATICO. The leaves of Piper angustifolium Ruiz et Pavon (Fam. Piperacea). Habitat.-Tropical America. CHARACTERS. From 10 to 15 cm. long, short-petiolate, oblong-lanceo late, apex pointed, base unequally heart-shaped, margin very finely crenulate, tessellated above, reticulate beneath, the meshes small, and the veins densely brownish-hairy; aromatic, spicy and bitterish. Resembling Matico leaves.-Digitalis leaves, which are less deeply reticulated. COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are-(1) Volatile oil, 21⁄2 per cent. (2) A pungent resin. (3) A bitter principle. (4) Artanthic Acid. (5) Tannic acid. Dose, 4 gm.; 60 gr. Preparation. Fluidextractum Matico.-Fluidextract of Matico. By maceration and percolation with Alcohol and Water, and evaporation. Dose, 4 c.c.; 1 fl. dr. Unofficial Preparations. 1. Tinctura Matico (U. S. P., 1890).-Tincture of Matico. Matico, 100, by maceration and percolation with Diluted Alcohol to 1000. Dose, 15 to 30 c.c.; 1/2 to 1 fl. oz. 2. Oleum Matico.-Oil of Matico. ACTION. Much the same as cubeb; the leaves promote the clotting of blood. USES. Has been given for the same cases as cubeb, but is now rarely used. The leaves may be applied to bleeding surfaces. Name of Plant. Juglans cinerea. GROUP XIV. Juglandaceæ. Part Used. Name of Drug. Butternut. Unofficial Preparations. JUGLANS (U. S. P., 1890). Juglans. Synonym.-Butternut. The bark of the root of Juglans cinerea Linné (Fam. Juglandacea), collected in autumn. Habitat.-North America. CHARACTERS.-In flat or curved pieces, about 5 mm. thick; the outer surface dark gray and nearly smooth, or deprived of the soft cork and deep brown; the inner surface smooth and striate; transverse fracture short, delicately checkered, whitish and brown; odor, feeble; taste bitter and somewhat acrid. COMPOSITION.-(1) Nucin, C1H ̧Os. (2) Juglandic Acid. (3) Fixed Oil, 4 per cent. Dose, 4 to 8 gm.; 1 to 2 dr. Extractum Juglandis (U. S. P., 1890).-Extract of Juglans. By maceration and percolation with Diluted Alcohol, and evaporation. Dose, .30 to 2.00 gm.; 5 to 30 gr. ACTION. It is a mild cathartic, resembling rhubarb in its action. SALICIN.-C13H1O, SALICINUM. 283.99. A glucoside obtained from several species of Salix and Populus (Fam. Salicacea). Synonym.-Willow. Habitat.-Europe, naturalized in North America; cultivated. |