Nutmeg

NUTMEG (Semen Myristicae, Nux moschata), from Myristica fragrans Houttyn, family Myristicaceae. Native to the Moluccas. Cultivated: in Asia—chiefly in the Moluccas, less so in Java, Borneo, Celebes, and Ceylon; in Africa—on the Mascarene Islands. It is noteworthy that birds play a role in the dissemination of the nutmeg tree, e.g., Carpophaga perspicillata and others, which swallow the nutmeg whole; the nutmeg passes through the gastrointestinal tract of the bird undamaged and even (according to Temminck) with a special capacity to germinate with particular success. The nutmeg is a handsome tree with a pyramidal crown; its height ranges from 6 to 12 and reaches even 20 m; the fruit of the nutmeg is a smooth, somewhat dry berry that splits open upon ripening and encloses the kernel (seed)—the nutmeg, covered by a bright crimson aril (arillus); the dried aril is yellow and goes on sale as a spice separately from the nut under the name of mace (Macis) (see below). Commercial nutmeg often has a white coating of calcium carbonate on its surface due to being soaked by merchants in lime water (to protect the seeds from insect pests). Constituents of the nutmeg: essential oil (8–15%), fixed oil (25–34%), starch, protein substances, ash (about 2¹/₂%). Nutmeg is used to stimulate stomach activity and to correct the taste of medicines (corrigens), in powder and as an electuary. The essential oil of nutmeg is used to make oil-sugar and is included in liniments and spirits; when taken internally, it is poisonous due to the presence of the phenol ether myristicin C₁₁H₁₂O₃. Preparations of nutmeg: Ol. Myristicae aeth., Electuarium aromaticum, Pulv. aromaticus, Spiritus Melissae compositus, and Spir. aromaticus. As a spice, nutmeg is of incomparably greater importance. Mace (Flos Macidis) contains essential oil (4–8%) of the same composition as the essential oil of nutmeg; the uses of mace are the same as those of nutmeg. Preparations: Ol. Macidis aeth. (Ph. G. VI), Spir. aromaticus (Ph. G. VI), and Mixt. oleoso-balsamica contain mace or its essential oil. The fixed oil of nutmeg (Ol. Myristicae expressum, Butyrum Nucistae) is a solid, yellow, aromatic fat consisting mainly of myristin (glyceride of myristic acid); it contains up to 6% essential oil. For medical purposes, it is used both per se for friction and in the form of Ceratum or Balsamum Nucistae.