Myristica fragrans
Myristica fragrans, commonly known as nutmeg, is a tropical evergreen tree native to the Banda Islands. Renowned for its aromatic seeds and distinctive mace, this versatile spice serves both culinary and medicinal purposes. It possesses potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, making it a valuable subject in ethnopharmacology.
- Scientific name: Myristica fragrans
- Family: Myristicaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Myristica fragrans, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Magnoliales. It is further classified into the family Myristicaceae and the genus Myristica.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Magnoliales | WCVP |
| Family | Myristicaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Myristica | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several tropical and subtropical regions across the globe. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found specifically around the Gulf of Guinea Islands. Its presence extends significantly into the Western Indian Ocean, where it is native to Comoros, Mauritius, and Réunion. Additionally, the species reaches into East Asia, specifically within the South-Central regions of China. Together, these locations highlight the wide environmental range inhabited by Myristica fragrans.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gulf of Guinea Is. | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Comoros | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Mauritius | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Réunion | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Andaman Is. | WCVP |
Chemicals
Myristica fragrans has 76 reported phytochemicals identified across 105 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include myristicin, elemicin, Myristicin, lignans, malabaricone B.
- Total chemicals
- 76
- Scientific sources
- 105
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| myristicin | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
| elemicin | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Myristicin | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| lignans | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| malabaricone B | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| malabaricone C | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| safrole | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| aflatoxin B1 | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dehydrodiisoeugenol | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| eugenol | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Myristica fragrans has 29 reported activities identified across 54 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Analgesic, Antibacterial, Anticancer.
- Total activities
- 29
- Scientific sources
- 54
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Analgesic | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antiinflammatory | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Neuroprotective | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Sedative | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Myristica fragrans has 52 reported medicinal uses identified across 70 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include oxidative stress, inflammation, Alzheimer's disease, diarrhea, malaria.
- Total uses
- 52
- Scientific sources
- 70
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| oxidative stress | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| inflammation | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Alzheimer's disease | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| diarrhea | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| malaria | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diabetic neuropathy | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rheumatism | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Alzheimer's diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| COVID-19 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |