MYRISTICA FRAGRANS: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW Review Article TRIPATHI NAGJA*, KUMAR VIMAL*, ACHARYA SANJEEV* Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Email: nagja.tripathi@nirmauni.ac.in Received: 19 Aug 2015 Revised and Accepted: 30 Dec 2015 ABSTRACT Myristica fragrans is a spreading tree, growing 9-12 m high, chiefly cultivated in Maluku region of Indonesia, known as the Spice Islands in earlier times. Caribbean islands of Grenada and Trinidad are also influential in growing this aromatic tree commercially. It belongs to Myristicaceae family and is the source of two spices, nutmeg (Jaiphal) and mace (Javitri). Nutmeg is the seed kernel inside the fruit and mace is the fleshy red, net-like skin covering (aril) on the kernel. Further, studies divulge the occurrence of different chemical constituents like Myristicin, Macelignan and Eugenol (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol). Nutmeg possesses various pharmacological activities like hepato protective activity, anti-oxidant activity, memory enhancing activity, cytotoxicity, aphrodisiac activity, anti-diabetic activity, anti-depressant activity, hypolipidemic and hypocholesterolemic effect, anti-microbial activity, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic activity, flavouring properties and pesticidal activity. This article reviews various pharmacological properties of this medicinal plant. Keywords: Myristica fragrans, Nutmeg, Myristicin. © 2016 The Authors. Published by Innovare Academic Sciences Pvt Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ) INTRODUCTION Myristica fragrans, which is commonly known as Nutmeg, belongs to the family Myristicaceae and is a medium sized, evergreen aromatic tree [1]. It is distributed in India, South East Asia, North Australia and Pacific islands. The Nutmeg tree is indigenous to Banda islands in the Moluccas in east Indonesia [2]. The seed (Nutmeg) and its fleshy aril (mace) are used as spices. It contains 4% myristicin. The Nutmeg spice has been recognized in Europe since 12 century when it was used as condiment and fumigant [3]. Nutmeg butter, a fat derived from the seed is used in perfumery, tobacco and toothpaste. Medicinally, it is used to support digestion and to treat rheumatism. Myristica fragrans seed is also used for diarrhoea, mouth sore and insomnia. It has been proved that Malabaricon C, obtained from Myristica fragrans, has inhibitory activity against several kinds of anaerobic and aerobic microorganisms [4]. Oil obtained from seeds of nutmeg significantly reduced the production of listeriolysin O which is a bacterial extracellular protein responsible for successful infection by Listeria monocytogenes [5]. There were no hallucinogenic or other psychoactive properties except mild sedation [6]. Myristicin is the principal aromatic constituent of the volatile oil of the nutmeg. Nutmeg as a spice has persisted to the present day. Various nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) preparations are still used as analgesics, stomachics, digestives, hypnotics, aphrodisiacs and amenorrheal agents [7]. The aim of this review is to emphasize on the various pharmacological activities of Myristica fragrans. Morphology Myristica fragrans tree have brown-red bark which is soft, smooth and flakes off in thin layers or large plates. The branching pattern is such that horizontal branches radiate in whorls from the trunk. Leaves (5 to 15 cm × 2 to 7 cm) are simple, entire, 2 ranked and alternately arranged on branches. Leaf veins are pinnate and free or anastomosing or brochidodromous. Leaf blades may be densely pubescent or totally glabrous. Myristica fragrans plants are usually dioecious, with the exception of a few monoecious. Flowers are unisexual, inconspicuous, small in size (<4 mm), composed of three sepals (rarely 4) that are fused to varying degrees and exude a strong fragrance [8-9]. Female flowers (up to 1 cm long) are uni- carpellate and uniovulate, and they show very little morphological differentiation within the family. Male flowers (5 to 7 mm long) are composed of 2-60 anthers which are fused to various degrees to a central column. Flowers are borne on racemose or thrysoidal paniculate inflorescences, which themselves originate within leaf axils. Once fertilized, the uni carpellate ovary develops into an elliptical fruit called a follicle. The fruit is comprised of a single seed, typically with a ruminate endosperm, covered to various degrees by a fatty white-reddish aril [10]. Ethnobotany The nutmeg tree bears fruits that dehisce when ripe to reveal a single seed covered by a bright red aril, which are commercially known as nutmeg and mace respectively. The primary use of Myristica fragrans is, as a flavouring agent in cooking, but many cultures around the world have found it useful for a myriad of purposes. In its native range, the pericarps of nutmeg are made into a sweet snack called ‘pala manis’ or ‘pala gulu’ by repeated soaking in a sugar solution [6]. Indigenous Malukans topically apply nutmeg oil, which gives a warm strengthening feeling, to relieve headaches, stomach aches, diarrhoea and flu symptoms [6]. Both nutmeg and mace have been used as an aphrodisiac, anti-rheumatoid, anti- malarial, stimulant, and post childbirth tonic [11]. Chemical composition The major chemical constituents of Myristica fragrans are alkyl benzene derivatives (myristicin, elemicin, safrole) myristic acid, alpha-pinene, terpenes, beta-pinene and trimyristin [12-13]. Nutmeg contains about 10% essential oil, chiefly composed of terpene hydrocarbons (sabinene and pinene), myrcene, phellandrene, camphene, limonene, terpinene, myrcene, pcymene and other terpene derivatives [14]. Nutmeg also yields nutmeg butter which contains 25 to 40 % fixed oil and is a semi-solid reddish brown fat having the aroma of nutmeg. Nutmeg butter contains trimyristin, oleic acid, linoleic acid and resinous material. The fixed oil of nutmeg butter is used in perfumes and for external application in sprains and rheumatism. [2]. Trimyristin is the major glycoside bearing anxiogenic activity [15]. Pharmacology Anti-bacterial, Anti-microbial and Anti-fungal property The antibacterial activity of the volatile oil obtained from the seeds of Myristica fragrans was tested in a study which included 25 different bacterial strains and it was observed that it was equally effective against the majority of gram positive and gram negative microbes [16]. Essential oil obtained from Myristica fragrans seeds has growth inhibition capability of bacterial spores and can be used International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences ISSN- 0975-1491 Vol 8, Issue 2, 2016