 Nutmeg
Adulteration
Many monoterines are added e.g. myrcene, camphene, terpinolene, pinene, also melaleuca alternafolia, terpenes from deterpenisation of nutmeg and myristicin from various rare plants. The addition of nutmeg terpenes, a- pinene, limonene, turpentine fractions etc.
GRAS
Nutmeg oil has GRAS status.
Uses
Nutmeg oil and its myrsticin and elemicin components have been patented for their soothing effects on man. Nutmeg oil has carminative properties: 10% oil in alcohol (spirits) are taken at 0.3/1.2ml. The oil is also used as a rubificient (37). Nutmeg inhibits prostaglandin synthesis and there are reports of successful treatment of diarrhoea associated with increased plasma prostaglandin levels with nutmeg (37). Nutmeg oil inhibits platelet aggregation in vitri, and thus, in theory could prevent coronaries (43). Nutmeg has also been used in veterinary medicine and as a medicine for various conditions but in particular for diarrhoea (44), where the active component was identified as eugenol, which is also the main constituents of cloves (45).
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