Nutmeg

Other Names

Al-jouz at-tibAruana silvestris Burm.f.Banda NutmegCommon NutmegDuftende MuskatnussFragrant NutmegJadhikaiJaiphalJakaiJansi banJathiJathikaJathikkaJatikaiJatikkaJatiphalaJatiphalamJatisasyaJatisphutaJatisugandhaJauzbuwaJayaphalaJouza at-teebMaceMada shaundaMadashaoundaMajjasaraMalatiphalaMalatisutaMoscadeiraMoscaderoMuscadeMuscadier communMuskatnödMuskatnussMuskatnussbaumMyristicaMyristica amboinensis Gand.Myristica aromatica Lam.Myristica aromatica Sw.Myristica fragransMyristica fragrans Houtt.Myristica laurella Gand.Myristica moschata Thunb.Myristica officinalis L.f.Myristica officinalis Mart.Myristica philippinensis Gand.Noce moscataNogal moscadoNoix muscadeNoz-moscadaNuez moscadaNutmeg treeNux moschataNux muscatusNux myristicaPalaPala bandaPalala fragrans (Houtt.) KuntzePied de muscadePutaRou dou kouSathiccupiSaumanasaphalaShalookaTrue Nutmeg

Synopsis

Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.): A Comprehensive Reference

1. Identity, Botanical Classification, and Natural Source

Scientific name: Myristica fragrans Houtt. Family: Myristicaceae. Myristica fragrans Houtt. (nutmeg) is an evergreen tree within the genus Myristica (Myristicaceae) and is a globally significant traditional spice and medicinal species. The nutmeg tree is indigenous to the Maluku Province of Indonesia, formerly known as the Spice Islands. It is now extensively distributed to Grenada, India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, South Africa, and the USA.

A fully-grown tree reaches about 50–60 feet in height and is the source of nutmeg and mace, two valuable spices. The nutmeg fruit is a drupe, about the size of an apricot, which when ripe splits up to reveal a single centrally situated oval-shaped hard kernel known as "nutmeg spice." The seed is closely enveloped by crimson-red colored lacy or thread-like arils known as "mace." Both spices have a similar warm, sweet aromatic flavor. The tree produces fruit year-round, but harvest usually occurs in April and November.

The fruit part of the tree has 78% flesh, 4% mace, 5% shell, and 13% seed; the kernel of this seed is ground to produce the nutmeg spice. The essential oil extracted from the seed is of primary scientific interest since oil is found in larger amounts in the seeds than in any other part of the plant; seeds contain more than 60 percent oil.

1.1 Common Preparations and Dosage Forms

Ground spice (powder): The dried kernel is ground and used in culinary and traditional medicinal preparations.
Essential oil: Oil yield ranges from 0.7–3.2% in the leaf, 8.1–10.3% in mace, 0.3–12.5% in seed, and 6.2–7.6% in the kernel, depending on extraction method.
Oleoresin (nutmeg butter / expressed oil): The two oils of nutmeg are the fixed oil (expressed oil, nutmeg butter) and the essential oil. Sabinene, myristicin, elemicin, α-pinene, β-pinene, limonene, terpinen-4-ol, and myristic acid are major compounds in the oleoresin.
Hydroethanolic and methanolic extracts: Used widely in pharmacological research to isolate specific phytochemical fractions.
Mace (dried aril): Nutmeg has two distinctive parts — nutmeg (seed) and mace (outer covering) — that are used for similar culinary purposes but possess different health benefits.

2. Traditional and Historical Use

2.1 Origins and Early Trade

Nutmeg originated in the Banda Islands of Indonesia. Known for its rich flavor and medicinal properties, early civilizations used it for cooking and as a remedy. Arab traders initially controlled the nutmeg trade, introducing it to Europe in the 6th century. The utility of nutmeg as a spice has been known since ancient times in Indonesia, and nutmeg was probably introduced into Europe during the twelfth century.

2.2 Ayurvedic and Indian Traditions

In the oldest Hindu scriptures, the Vedas, composed between 1500 and 1000 BC, nutmeg was recommended for better digestion, headache, colds, fevers, bad breath, and neural problems. Later subcontinental texts expanded the medicinal scope of nutmeg to include cardiac problems, asthma, toothache, rheumatism, and even flatulence. In Ayurveda, the seeds were used to treat poor digestion, insomnia, and urinary incontinence.

2.3 Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Nutmeg is an important ethnomedicinal resource with dietary and therapeutic significance in traditional Asian medical systems. Its use in China dates back to approximately the 3rd–4th centuries CE, and classical medical texts document its core functions of "warming the middle jiao to promote qi flow, and astringing the intestines to relieve diarrhea." By the 8th century, nutmeg had made its way into popular parlance in Chinese literature for a similar range of medicinal benefits.

2.4 Unani and Islamic Golden Age Medicine

In the Golden Age of Islam, roughly between the 7th and 13th centuries, the Arabian Peninsula became a central force of learning and culture, and many renowned scholars from this period believed that medical illnesses were a result of bodily imbalances, which could be restored through the right diet of herbs and spices — and nutmeg featured very highly as a restorative spice. In his highly regarded Al-Qanun fi al-Tib (The Canon of Medicine, 1025), Ibn Sina recommended "three-eighths of a dram of nutmeg with a small quantity of quince-juice" for "weakness of the stomach," and he described nutmeg as a potent anesthetic concoction.

2.5 European Folk Medicine and the Spice Trade

Nutmeg's popularity soared during the Middle Ages. European demand intensified as it was used to flavor food, preserve meats, and even mask the taste of spoiled wine. During the outbreak of the bubonic plague, it was believed nutmeg was a potential cure and preventative; it was often placed into the beaks of plague masks to purify the air and mask the smell of death. Historically, nutmeg's high value and limited supply led to it being a luxury item in European markets, influencing global trade and colonial expansion.

2.6 Broader Ethnomedicinal Uses

In folkloric medicine, nutmeg has long been used as a remedy for gastrointestinal problems such as flatulence, colic, indigestion, and diarrhea. The traditional use of nutmeg to treat tumors and infectious diseases such as parasites and plague has also been reported. Nutmeg has been used externally to treat skin infections, rheumatism, and paralysis. Historically valued in Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Unani medicine, it was commonly used in these systems to alleviate abdominal problems, improve concentration and memory, encourage relaxed sleep, and remedy ailments ranging from rheumatism to lung issues. Mace and nutmeg are components of many remedies in Thai traditional medicine, used to treat gastrointestinal symptoms, and are also used for the same properties in Ayurvedic, Chinese, and Tibetan traditional medicine.

3. Phytochemistry: Key Constituents and Active Compounds

3.1 Essential Oil Composition

Based on multiple GC/MS analyses, the average number of compounds identified in nutmeg essential oil is approximately 34. The most detected constituents include the monoterpenes α-pinene (7.4±3.5%), 4-terpineol (16.0±10.6%), γ-terpinene (5.3±3.3%), limonene (5.9±2.8%), sabinene (16.4±4.8%), α-terpineol (2.4±2.2%), α-terpinene (4.4±3.7%), and β-pinene (5.2±3.0%); and the phenylpropanoids myristicin (12.4±11.7%), elemicin (1.9±1.7%), methyleugenol (3.8±7.2%), safrole (2.6±1.9%), eugenol (6.8±11.4%), and methylisoeugenol (5.7±9.6%).

The primary chemical constituents of nutmeg essential oil are sabinene, eugenol, myristicin, caryophyllene, β-myrcene, and α-pinene. Myristicin, elemicin, and safrole account for the majority (85–95%) of the compounds in the aromatic fraction, and myristicin represents about 4–12% of the compounds present in the essential oil.

3.2 Fixed Oil (Nutmeg Butter)

Nutmeg is a rich source of fixed and essential oil, triterpenes, and various types of phenolic compounds. The phytochemical profile of hydroethanolic extract also includes fatty acids such as tetradecanoic acid, 9-octadecenoic acid, n-hexadecanoic acid, dodecanoic acid, and octadecanoic acid, methoxyeugenol, and elemicin as main constituents.

3.3 Lignans and Neolignans

Several pharmacological activities have been attributed to macelignan, the main bioactive lignan component identified in nutmeg mace. These activities range from antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer to antidiabetic, hepato-, and neuroprotective. The broader phytochemical profile includes alkaloids, terpenoids, phenols, flavonoids, and glycosides, with myristicin, macelignan, safrole, and sabinene as prime bioactive components.

3.4 Other Notable Compounds

Reported phytochemicals include myristicin, safrole, eugenol, elemicin, isoelemicin, trans-isoeugenol, dehydrodiisoeugenol, α-pinene, β-pinene, sabinene, linalool, linoleic acid, geraniol, 4-terpineol, palmitic acid, virolane, and myticaganal A and C. Other compounds such as dehydrodiisoeugenol, malabaricone B and C, and elemicins have shown strong antioxidant potential and enzyme inhibitory properties, enhancing insulin sensitivity, inhibiting α-glucosidase, reducing oxidative stress, and supporting neurocognitive function by inhibiting inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α).

3.5 Nutritional Micronutrient Profile

Nutmeg comprises vitamin C and several B-complex vitamins, including thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin, as well as vitamin A-linked carotenoids.

4. Established and Proposed Mechanisms of Action

4.1 Myristicin: Central Compound and Psychoactive Mechanism

The most concentrated compound detected in blood plasma after inhalation of nutmeg essential oil is myristicin. Numerous studies report that myristicin is responsible for hallucinogenic effects, induced by the consumption of nutmeg, due to its metabolism to 3-methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MMDA). Myristicin primarily acts to inhibit monoamine oxidase, the enzyme responsible for the breakdown of serotonin, noradrenaline, and dopamine, leading to symptoms of serotonin toxicity. Elemicin, which is structurally similar to the psychedelic alkaloid mescaline, causes hallucinations and has anticholinergic effects as well.

4.2 Anti-inflammatory Pathways

M. fragrans exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties by modulating various pathways like PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MAPK, and NF-κB signaling pathways and G0/G1 or G2/M phase arrest. Macelignan has been shown to inhibit LPS-induced activation of the Toll-like receptor 4 pathway by suppressing nuclear factor NF-κB, reducing cyclooxygenase type-2 (COX-2) expression, and inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS) output. Nutmeg oil alleviates chronic inflammatory pain through inhibition of COX-2 expression and substance P release in vivo.

4.3 Neuroprotective Mechanisms

Mechanistic studies revealed that the neuroprotective effect observed with macelignan is mediated by activation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR-γ), which in turn activates arginase 1 enzyme expression. The findings implicate a probable protective role of macelignan against Parkinson's Disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. In vitro studies have elucidated that licarin A, a compound found in related species, may possess neuroprotective value against glutamate-induced toxicity of rat cortical cells; the protective effect was also evident against kainic acid-induced neurotoxicity and was attributed to potent antioxidant properties, including reduction of NO, peroxide, and free radical production, as well as enhancing antioxidant enzyme systems.

4.4 Gastrointestinal Regulatory Mechanisms

Classical texts document nutmeg's core function of "astringing the intestines to relieve diarrhea." Modern research confirms that lignans and terpenoids are its primary active constituents, exerting significant gastrointestinal regulatory effects through multi-target mechanisms. Malabaricone B has been shown to exert a significant healing effect against indomethacin-induced stomach ulcer; administration of malabaricone B attenuated the increased nitric oxide synthesis induced by indomethacin, while enhancing the arginase pathway, thus favoring an anti-inflammatory cytokine ratio.

4.5 Anticariogenic Mechanism

Preliminary antibacterial screening revealed that the extract of Myristica fragrans possesses strong inhibitory activity against Streptococcus mutans. The anticariogenic compound was successfully isolated as macelignan, which showed a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 3.9 μg/mL against S. mutans — much lower than other natural anticariogenic agents such as sanguinarine (15.6 μg/mL), eucalyptol (250 μg/mL), menthol and thymol (500 μg/mL), and methyl salicylate (1000 μg/mL).

5. Scientific Evidence by Area of Use

5.1 Antioxidant Activity

Clinical and experimental investigations have confirmed antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimalarial, anticonvulsant, hepatoprotective, antiparasitic, insecticidal, and nematocidal activities of nutmeg essential oil. In one study using GC-MS analysis, 23 phytoconstituents were identified with elemicin (24.44%) as the major constituent; lipid peroxidase, catalase, and DPPH assays performed using the isolated elemicin revealed significant antioxidant activity. Nutmeg extract has been shown to effectively reduce oxidative stress and inflammation by improving the body's natural antioxidant defense mechanism.

Evidence strength: Predominantly in vitro and animal studies. No large-scale randomized human clinical trials have been reported establishing antioxidant efficacy in humans at specific supplemental doses.

5.2 Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Effects

The anti-inflammatory effect of nutmeg has been evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. It has been shown that nutmeg, or its active compounds, effectively alleviate inflammation by inhibiting various inflammatory factors. The anti-inflammatory effects of macelignan have been extensively studied. Shin et al. reported that treatment with macelignan prevents the development of allergen-induced asthma in experimental animal models. The protective effect was coupled to a reduction in CD4+ T cells' production of interleukin-4 (IL-4), but with no apparent effect on IL-17 or interferon cells.

Evidence strength: Most of the evidence for the anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions, such as inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 and reduction of pro-inflammatory mediators, is from animal or in vitro models, not direct human studies.

5.3 Gastrointestinal Health

In folkloric medicine, nutmeg has long been used as a remedy for gastrointestinal problems such as flatulence, colic, indigestion, and diarrhea. Nutmeg is currently also recognized for the treatment of bowel movement irregularities and muscle spasm. Modern mechanistic data support several plausible pathways for these effects, including inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators and regulation of gastrointestinal motility by lignan and terpenoid constituents. However, well-controlled human clinical trials specifically testing nutmeg for gastrointestinal endpoints remain absent from the peer-reviewed literature.

Evidence strength: Strong traditional documentation; supporting in vitro and animal mechanistic data; clinical evidence in humans is absent.

5.4 Neuroprotective and Cognitive Effects

The anti-cholinesterase activity of Myristica fragrans seed has been assessed. Compounds such as hydroxy-3'-methoxyphenyl hydroxypropyl benzene indicated effective action with an IC50 of 35.1 μM. This is among the primary reports on M. fragrans seeds' anticholinesterase properties, and the findings suggest it may be effective in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Current research is limited to animal models and in vitro studies. A 2017 animal model reported that volatile oils extracted from the seed were able to alter levels of specific neurotransmitters in the hippocampus, the region of the brain associated primarily with memory.

Evidence strength: Preclinical only (in vitro and animal). Despite the traditional uses and activities reported for nutmeg, the mechanisms underlying its effects remain unclear and further pharmacological studies are certainly needed to properly assess the therapeutic potential of this natural product.

5.5 Antidepressant and Anxiolytic Effects

In a preclinical study, male Wistar rats were subjected to imipramine and a herbal extract of Myristica fragrans (MS) for antidepressant activity using the Forced Swimming Test (FST), Reserpine Reversal Test (RRT), Haloperidol-Induced Catalepsy (HIC), and Pentobarbitone Sleeping Time (PST). Administration of MS and imipramine revealed a statistically significant reduction in immobility time in FST, RRT, and protection against HIC, compared to the control group. However, there was no significant potentiation of PST. The study concluded there is potential antidepressant activity of MS. Lignans and neolignans have been reported from the plant with various pharmacological properties including anticancer and antidepressant activities.

Evidence strength: Preclinical animal data only. No human clinical trials have been published evaluating nutmeg as an antidepressant or anxiolytic intervention.

5.6 Antimicrobial Activity

Antibacterial studies on isolated elemicin showed a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 31.25 μg/mL against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella typhi, and 62.5 μg/mL against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. Nutmeg seeds have been reported to have potent antimicrobial properties against a wide range of bacteria and fungi, showing potential for combating microbial infections. Regarding Helicobacter pylori, dihydroguaiaretic acid (DGA) has shown antimicrobial activity against H. pylori, and neolignans and phenolic compounds present in the methanolic extract of mace have shown inhibitory effects on mediators in the inflammatory pathway and antiproliferative effects.

Evidence strength: Predominantly in vitro. No controlled human clinical trials have been reported.

5.7 Anticariogenic Activity (Oral Health)

One study has shown that macelignan may exert antimicrobial and anticariogenic activity against Streptococcus mutans, but this is not a currently used treatment. The in vitro MIC values reported for macelignan (3.9 μg/mL) are substantially lower than those of established natural anticariogenic agents, providing a mechanistic basis for possible oral health applications, but no clinical dental trials have confirmed efficacy in humans.

Evidence strength: In vitro only.

5.8 Antidiabetic Effects

Macelignan may also act as an antidiabetic molecule via PPAR signaling and upregulate adipocyte gene expression. Compounds including dehydrodiisoeugenol, malabaricone B and C, and elemicins have shown enzyme inhibitory properties, enhancing insulin sensitivity and inhibiting α-glucosidase.

Evidence strength: In vitro and animal model data. No human clinical trial evidence is currently available.

5.9 Hepatoprotective Effects

Macelignan found in the nutmeg mace of Myristica fragrans has been shown to possess a spectrum of pharmacological activities, including anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-diabetes, and hepatoprotective activities. In addition to its culinary use, nutmeg has been used in traditional remedies for stomach and kidney disorders.

Evidence strength: Animal models only. Human clinical evidence is lacking.

5.10 Cardiovascular Effects

Nutmeg contains phenylpropenes and terpenes, such as myristicin, γ-terpinene, geraniol, safrole, and longifolene, which are associated with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects involved in vascular protection. Preclinical models indicate that nutmeg extracts may reduce lipid peroxidation and modulate lipid metabolism, including reductions in LDL oxidation and improved lipid excretion. Nutmeg affected lipid peroxidation, reduced lipid oxidation and LDL, and increased phospholipid and cholesterol excretion. In addition, nutmeg extract has been reported to improve the modulation of cardiac metabolism, accelerate cardiac conductivity and ventricular contractility, and prevent cell apoptosis.

Evidence strength: No human studies directly demonstrate a reduction in blood pressure from nutmeg consumption, and any cardiovascular benefit remains speculative.

5.11 Anticonvulsant / Neuroprotection in Epilepsy Models

One study was designed to investigate whether the nutmeg ethanolic extract could exert anticonvulsant and inhibitory effects on glial activation in a pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced mice model of kindling. Ethanolic extract of nutmeg was administered intraperitoneally 1 hour before PTZ injection, or 1 week before PTZ for a separate fully-kindled group. Results indicated attenuation of neuronal loss and glial activation, though the study was conducted in an animal model with no translation to human clinical data.

Evidence strength: Animal study only. No clinical trial evidence exists.

5.12 Aphrodisiac / Sexual Function

Oral administration of a nutmeg extract at the dose of 500 mg/kg produced significant augmentation of sexual activity in male rats; it significantly increased Mounting Frequency, Intromission Frequency, Intromission Latency, and caused significant reduction in Mounting Latency and Post Ejaculatory Interval, as well as increased Mounting Frequency with penile anaesthetisation and penile reflexes. The extract was also observed to be devoid of any adverse effects and acute toxicity at that dose. The aphrodisiac effect of nutmeg is frequently mentioned in traditional literature.

Evidence strength: Animal study only. No human randomized controlled trials exist.

6. Body Systems and Health Areas Associated with Nutmeg

Gastrointestinal system: Antidiarrheal, carminative, antiulcer, and anti-H. pylori potential
Central nervous system: Antidepressant, anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, sedative, and neuroprotective properties (macelignan, myristicin, PPAR-γ activation)
Immune and inflammatory system: NF-κB, COX-2, and cytokine (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α) modulation
Metabolic system: Antidiabetic (α-glucosidase inhibition, PPAR signaling, insulin sensitization)
Hepatic system: Hepatoprotective against oxidative and toxin-induced damage
Cardiovascular system: Antioxidant-mediated vascular protection; anti-lipid peroxidation; antithrombotic
Oral/dental health: Anticariogenic activity against S. mutans (macelignan)
Musculoskeletal system: Anti-rheumatic and analgesic use in traditional medicine
Reproductive system: Traditional aphrodisiac use; preclinical male sexual function data
Antimicrobial defense: Broad-spectrum in vitro antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi

7. Dosage Forms and Doses Reported in Studies

The following doses appear in the scientific literature. They are provided strictly as reported — not as recommendations.

The minimum dosage of nutmeg that can cause a psychogenic effect is 5 g (ground nutmeg) with 1 to 2 mg myristicin content; this dosage is considered a "toxic dose."
Even 10 grams (approximately 2 teaspoons) of nutmeg is enough to cause symptoms of toxicity, according to case studies from the Illinois Poison Center. At doses of 50 grams or more, those symptoms become more severe.
In a male rat sexual function study, oral administration of nutmeg extract at the dose of 500 mg/kg produced significant augmentation of sexual activity.
In an inhalation study in mice, the essential oil was administered at doses of 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 mL/cage; inhalation at 0.5 mL/cage decreased locomotion by 68.62%.
In culinary use, most recipes call for only 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg per recipe, divided among multiple portions, yielding very small individual exposure.

No standardized therapeutic dose range has been established in human clinical trials for any health indication. Key research priorities include establishing a comprehensive quality control system linking processing techniques, chemical characterization, and pharmacological/toxicological properties — an effort crucial for bridging the evidence gap between traditional experience and standardized modern medicine.

8. Safety Considerations, Toxicity, and Interactions

8.1 Acute Toxicity and Overdose Presentation

Toxic outcomes related to myristicin in humans are largely associated with acute overdoses of nutmeg. Ingestion of excessive amounts of nutmeg (as little as one and a half seeds and up to 19 seeds) can result in a delirious stupor, with a combination of stimulation and drowsiness or weakness similar to opium and other narcotics. Excessive nutmeg intake can cause anticholinergic and psychiatric symptoms including tachycardia, dizziness, excitement, anxiety, headache, limb weakness, dry mouth, and nausea. Symptoms typically subside after 24 to 36 hours.

8.2 Mechanism of Toxicity

Myristicin acts by moderately inhibiting monoamine oxidase, causing anticholinergic symptoms. It also leads to the formation of the metabolite 3-methoxy-4,5-methylendioxy amphetamine (MMDA), responsible for its psychedelic effects. Tremor in animals receiving toxic nutmeg doses has been linked to the anticholinergic effects of nutmeg attributed to myristicin and elemicin. Urinary retention has also been noted as a potential side effect from the anticholinergic properties of nutmeg.

8.3 Genotoxic and Potentially Carcinogenic Constituents

Nutmeg oil contains safrole (range: 1.69–2.30%) and methyleugenol (0.18–0.32%), two compounds with experimentally proven genotoxicity and carcinogenicity in rodents, as reviewed by the Scientific Committee on Food of the European Commission (2001). Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) oil is considered potentially carcinogenic because of its safrole and methyleugenol content. These assessments are based on rodent bioassays and extrapolated risk; direct human carcinogenicity evidence at culinary exposure levels is not established.

8.4 Recreational Abuse and Epidemiology

Data from the California Poison Control System (CPCS) electronic database showed that 72.3% of nutmeg exposures between 1997 and 2008 were intentional for recreational purposes, primarily in individuals between ages 13 and 20 years old. A 10-year analysis of nutmeg exposure from the Illinois Poison Center showed that 47% of exposures to nutmeg were intentional for recreational use due to hallucinogenic properties. The incidence of intentional exposures was double in the adolescent age group compared to those above 19 years of age. All children under the age of 13 years had unintentionally been exposed to nutmeg toxicity.

8.5 Organ-Level Adverse Effects at High Doses

When consumed in large portions, myristicin becomes toxic and causes fatty degeneration in the liver. The myristicin in nutmeg may cause organ damage such as liver, heart, and kidney damage. At high doses, gastrointestinal and hepato-renal adverse effects have been reported.

8.6 Monoamine Oxidase Inhibition and Drug Interactions

Myristicin primarily acts to inhibit monoamine oxidase, the enzyme responsible for the breakdown of serotonin, noradrenaline, and dopamine. This mechanism carries the theoretical risk of serotonin syndrome when nutmeg is consumed in large quantities concurrently with serotonergic drugs (SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs, or serotonin-releasing substances), though this has not been systematically characterized in controlled human pharmacokinetic studies.

8.7 Safety in Pregnancy

In pregnancy and lactation, nutmeg has been used in traditional medicine practice for antenatal and postnatal treatment. However, case reports of nutmeg intoxication occurring during pregnancy have been documented in the peer-reviewed literature. Its safety profile is dose-dependent: culinary amounts are considered safe, but high intakes are linked to neurotoxicity, highlighting the need for careful interpretation and further human research.

8.8 Safrole Content and Regulatory Context

There is no specific EU authorisation for any M. fragrans preparation when used to provide flavour in food; however, according to EU Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008, flavouring preparations produced from food or food ingredients with flavouring properties may be used without evaluation and approval as long as they do not, on the basis of available scientific evidence, pose a safety risk to the health of the consumer. As a member of the alkoxy-substituted allylbenzene family, myristicin shares many physical and chemical properties with the food additives apiole, safrole, elemicin, estragole, and methyleugenol.

References

Health Conditions

Health conditions that Nutmeg may help support.

No conditions available.

Body Systems

Body systems that Nutmeg may help support.

No body systems available.