A Review on Chemical Composition, Bioactivity, and Toxicity of Myristica fragrans Houtt. Essential Oil

Myristica fragrans Houtt., commonly known as nutmeg, is an Indonesian indigenous dioecious evergreen tree that contains 5-15% volatile oil. The oil is usually produced from the seed or mace. Nutmeg oil has been extensively utilized in aromatherapy, natural medicine, and the perfume industry. This article provides an overview of the chemical compounds, biological potency, and toxic effects of nutmeg essential oil compiled from recent literature (2000-2020). Nutmeg oil mainly comprises monoterpenes and phenylpropanoids. Several reports on gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry analysis of nutmeg oil showed that there were 27-38 chemical constituents detected at various concentrations. Many secondary metabolites of nutmeg oil are reported to show biological activities that possibly substantiate its utilization in natural medicine. Numerous studies reported the biological activities of this volatile oil such as antioxidant, analgesic, antiinflammation, anticonvulsant, antibacterial, antiparasitic, insecticidal, and anticancer activity. But large intake of nutmeg oil could cause intoxication which is shown through symptoms in the cardiovascular, central nervous system, anticholinergic, and local effects in the stomach. These symptoms are mainly attributed to the effect of myristicin, safrole, and elemicin overdose. This updated review paper intends to attract more attention to nutmeg oil and its potential to be developed into a medicinal product for the prophylaxis and therapy of diseases.