MYRISTICA FRAGANS

NUTMEG

Scientific classificationKingdom: Plantae

(unranked): Angiosperms

(unranked): MagnoliidsOrder: Magnoliales

Family: Myristicaceae

Genus: MyristicaGronov

NUTMEG The nutmeg tree is

native to the Banda Islands of Indonesia and is widely used a fragrant spice in many international dishes.

The name nutmeg comes from Latin, nux muscat, meaning musky nut.

The nutmeg tree is important for two spices derived from the fruit: nutmeg and mace.

NUTMEG

In medicine, nutmeg has been used for its sedative effects to treat nervous complaints and to promote sleep.

It is also been used to treat rheumatism in Indonesia, Malaysia, China, and England.

TOXICITY AND PHARMACOLOGYNutmeg consists of 45-60% cellulose and solid matter, 24-40% fixed oils and 5-15% volatile oils.

The volatile oil contains 80% monoterpenes and 5% monoterpene alcohols with the remainder made up by aromatic ethers and miscellaneous compounds and it is believed to be responsible for the psychoactive effects of nutmeg.

TOXICITY AND PHARMACOLOGY

The aromatic ether fraction contains myristicin, elemicin, and safrole, along with other alkyl-benzene derivatives.

These compounds would metabolize in the body as follows: myristicin to NMDA, elemicin to TMA, and safrole to MDA.

MYRISTICIN

Myristicin, or methoxysafrole, generally makes up 4-8% of nutmeg's volatile oil and has been found in concentrations as high as 1.3% of nutmeg by weight (C.E.F.S. 2005).

MYRISTICIN

It is active at the 5-HT receptors in the brain, and has been shown to have hypotensive, sedative, anti-depressant, anesthetic, hallucinogenic, and serotonergic properties (Sangalli & Chiang 2001). Large doses generally cause hyper-excitability, followed by CNS depression.

ELEMECIN

Elemecin is a phenylpropene that comprises 2.4% of the fresh essential oil. Elemecin is partially responsible for the psychoactive effects of nutmeg.

EFFECTS

Physiological effects include dry mouth, nausea, hypotension, euphoria, CNS excitation, hallucination, and dyspnea.

MYRISTICINBecause of myristicin's close relationship with safrole, it has long been considered a "suspected carcinogen." However, scientific data is lacking on this point. Several studies indicate possible carcinogenicity, but the results have been statistically insignificant. Myristicin has shown mild DNA binding properties, an indicator of carcinogenicity, but has not been found to be genotoxic (Hallstrom & Thuvander 1997).