Nutmeg oil

Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.), belonging to the family Myristicaceae, is a spice seed from the fruit of a tropical. The nutmeg tree grows well in the tropical climate, and found on the continents of the America, Asia and Africa.

Nutmeg has a distinctive, pungent fragrance and a warm, slightly sweet taste; it is used to flavor many kinds of baked goods, confections, puddings, meats, sausages, sauces, vegetables, and some beverages such as eggnog. Nutmeg has aromatic, stimulant, narcotic, carminative, astringent, aphrodisiac, hypolipidaemic, antithrombotic, anti-platelet aggregation, antifungal, anti-dysenteric, and anti-inflammatory activities. The spice is used as a remedy for stomach ache, rheumatism, and vomiting during pregnancy.

Nutmeg contains a volatile oil, a fixed oil, proteins, fats, starch, and mucilage. The fixed oil contains myristin and myristic acid. Nutmeg yields 5–15% of volatile oil. The main component of nutmeg essential oil was a hydrocarbon monoterpene (61-88% as α-pinene, β-pinene, sabinene) monoterpenes acid (5-15%), and aromatic ether (2-18% such as myristicin, elemicin, safrole). Nutmeg oil has 37 components and 31.3% was terpinen-4-ol, reported that nutmeg oil has antifungal activity.

Because of its aroma, nutmeg’s essential oil has been used as a natural flavoring extract and as a perfume in the cosmetic industries. In particular, the oil has been used as a flavoring agent, replacing ground nutmeg in order to avoid leaving particles in foods and beverages.

Nutmeg oil is also known for other properties, such as insecticide, fungicide, and antibacterial. In this case, nutmeg essential oil is considered to be a promising biopreservative.
Nutmeg oil

Health benefits of nutmeg

Known as a popular spice around the world, nutmeg is also popular for its many health benefits. Nutmeg fruit is the only tropical fruit that is source of two different spices: nutmeg and mace.

Nutmeg has been found to be an effective anti-diarrheal agent, reducing the amount of stool, increasing the period between evacuations and improving intestinal tone while inhibiting the contractions that would normally be stimulated by irritating agents.

American herbalists use nutmeg as a digestive remedy for nausea,vomiting, indigestion and diarrhea.

The fruit is a good source of vitamins A, C and D, minerals (calcium, manganese, iron, copper, potassium and magnesium), carotenoids and essential volatile oils.

Nutmeg consumed as a brain tonic during ancient Roman and Greek. This due to the nutmeg can effectively stimulate human brain which resulted in eliminate fatigue and stress.

Nutmeg oil relieves stomachaches by removing the excess gas from intestines. Nutmeg also can boost appetite.

Modern research has revealed that nutmeg extract possess aphrodisiac activity. Nutmeg also has other effects beneficial to sexual health; it can help increase circulation, lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure.
Health benefits of nutmeg

Fruit of nutmeg

Nutmeg, the aromatic fruit of the tree Myristica fragrans, originates from certain small islands in the eastern part of the Malay Archipelago.

The nutmeg tree is indigenous to the Banda islands in the Moluccas. The species of the genus Myristica are distributed from India and South-East Asia to North Australia and the Pacific Islands.

Nutmeg is the dried kernel of the seed and mace is dried aril sounding the seeds.

Nutmeg and the more delicacy flavored mace are aromatic staples of the western pastry tradition, but interestingly, they also intriguing notes to savory dishes.

Nutmeg’s characteristics aroma has a trace of heat while mace imparts something of its red coloring and is a bit sweeter and more intense.

Nowadays, in Indonesia, the fruit flesh is mixed with palm sugar and sun-dried to make a pleasant and nourishing sweet.

Besides nutmeg and mace, a number of other products are commercially important. Oleoresins, nutmeg butter and essential oils are also derived from Myristica fragrans and they find varied uses in the food, medicine and perfume industries.
Fruit of nutmeg