Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of extracts or of extract compounds from Piper cubeba L. as active components in a medicament for the treatment of cancer. The invention also relates to a method for the preparation of a dry extract from the fruit of Piper cubeba L.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of a dry extract from the fruit of Piper cubeba L., which characterized in that, in a first step, the fruit of Piper cubeba L. either is subjected to a steam distillation for the removal of essential oils and the distillate is removed or extracted at least once with a lipophilic phase and the lipophilic extract or extracts are removed; in a second step, the fruit, so treated, is extracted at least once either with at least one alcohol or with a mixture of at least one alcohol and water; and, in a third step, the extracted fruit parts are removed and an auxiliary material is added to the extract so obtained, which is then concentrated to a thick extract with an alcohol concentration of 0.1 to 10% (w/w), then dried and recovered.