Profiling of metabolic compounds in sun-dried cubeb stem (Piper cubeba) with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

The cubeb (Piper cubeba), also known as "kemukus"in Indonesia, is a medicinal plant commonly used to treat a range of digestive and respiratory conditions, including sore throats, diarrhoea, asthma, and lung problems. This is because the cubeb plant produces secondary metabolites. Aside from the fruit, namely the cubeb stem, every part of the cubeb plant has therapeutic qualities. The purpose of this study is to characterise the secondary metabolites of sun-dried cubeb stems. GC-MS (Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry) study of secondary metabolic chemical profiles. The GC-MS method was chosen because it can profile a large number of secondary metabolite compounds. The amount of compound match factors more than 58 determines the value of the profiling result. GC-MS was used to conduct a descriptive study on the metabolic compound data. Using 70 and 96 ethanol solvents, respectively, eight and sixteen chemicals were identified in the secondary metabolite profile of sun-dried cubeb stems. Phenols, terpenes, fatty acids, alkaloids, and flavonoids are among the secondary metabolites found in sun-dried cubeb stems, which have potential use as a phytogenic feed additive, phytobiotic, or in pharmaceutical applications. © 2025 The Authors.