| Introduction: |
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| The fruit of evergreen tropical tree Myristica fragrans, has been widely used in culinary. It is native to Indonesia and is cultivated in South Africa, the Molucca Islands, India and other tropical areas. It is known to possess carminative, astringent, tranquilizing, anti-thrombotic, anti-platelet aggregation, antifungal, aphrodisiac, anxiogenic, antidiarrheal and anti-inflammatory activities. |
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| Chemical Constituents: |
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| Some of the major chemical constituents of Myristica fragrans are volatile oil, myristicin & myristic, epicatechin, and cyaniding. |
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| Pharmacological Actions |
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Tranquilizing effect:1,2
Pharmacological studies were done on Myristica fragrans to see the effect of it on anti-diarrheal, hypnotic, analgesic and hemodynamic (blood pressure) parameters. The result of the study showed that it has a good antidiarrheal effect, with a significant tranquilizing property. Another study was done to see behavioral actions of Myristica fragrans seeds. The results of the study showed that Myristica fragrans has anxiogenic, tranquilizing and analgesic activities. |
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| Herb Drug interactions:2,3,4 |
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| Interactions with nutmeg and diazepam, ondansetron, or buspirone have been reported in rats. Because of anxiogenic properties, a theoretical interaction may occur with nutmeg/mace and anxiolytics. |
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| Safety: |
| No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction with the proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages. |
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| Reference |
| 1 |
Grover JK, Khandkar S, Vats V, Dhunnoo Y, Das D., Pharmacological studies on Myristica fragrans--antidiarrheal, hypnotic, analgesic and hemodynamic (blood pressure) parameters. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol. 2002 Dec; 24(10): 675-80. |
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| 2 |
Sonavane G, Sarveiya V, Kasture V, Behavioral Actions of Myristica fragrans seeds. Indian Journal of Pharmacology 2001; 33: 417-424 |
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| 3 |
De Milto L, Frey RJ. Nutmeg. In: Longe JL, project editor. Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Vol 3. 2nd ed. Detroit, MI: Thomson Gale; 2005:1461-1463. |
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| 4 |
Van Gils C, Cox PA. Ethnobotany of nutmeg in the Spice Islands. J Ethnopharmacol . 1994; 42:117-124. |
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