Ingredients

Mace (Myristica fragrans)

Explore the available health information, treatment context, and integrative evidence for Mace (Myristica fragrans).

Background

Nutmeg and mace are two commonly used spices originating from the same tree, Myristica fragrans. Nutmeg is derived from the seed of the tree and mace from the seed covering.
Nutmeg has a history of abuse as a popular recreational psychoactive drug. However, mace does not have a history of this use.
Based on human study, mace extract, when used as part of a chewing gum, may decrease plaque and gingivitis. Although not well studied in humans, mace extract may also have antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. Mace is a popular medicine in India to treat measles.

References

Ballal, M., Pradeep, and Shivananda, P. G. Myristica fragrans [nutmeg] and its activity against the enteric pathogens. Indian J.Pathol.Microbiol. 2003;46(3):524-525.
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Burdock, G. A. and Carabin, I. G. Safety assessment of myristic acid as a food ingredient. Food Chem.Toxicol. 2007;45(4):517-529.
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Checker, R, Chatterjee, S, Sharma, D, et al. Immunomodulatory and radioprotective effects of lignans derived from fresh nutmeg mace (Myristica fragrans) in mammalian splenocytes. Int Immunopharmacol 2008; 8(5):661-9.
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Chung, JY, Choo, JH, Lee, MH, et al. Anticariogenic activity of macelignan isolated from Myristica fragrans (nutmeg) against Streptococcus mutans. Phytomedicine 2006;13(4):261-266.
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Forrest, J. E. and Heacock, R. A. Nutmeg and mace, the psychotropic spices from Myristica fragrans. Lloydia. 1972;35(4):440-449.
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Grover, J. K., Khandkar, S., Vats, V., et al, D. Pharmacological studies on Myristica fragrans--antidiarrheal, hypnotic, analgesic and hemodynamic (blood pressure) parameters. Methods Find.Exp.Clin.Pharmacol. 2002;24(10):675-680.
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Jannu, LN, Hussain, SP, and Rao, AR. Chemopreventive action of mace (Myristica fragrans, Houtt) on DMBA-induced papillomagenesis in the skin of mice. Cancer Lett 1991;56(1):59-63.
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Olajide, O. A., Ajayi, F. F., Ekhelar, A. I., et al. Biological effects of Myristica fragrans (nutmeg) extract. Phytother.Res. 1999;13(4):344-345.
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Park, E. Y., Shin, S. M., Ma, C. J., Kim, Y. C., and Kim, S. G. meso-dihydroguaiaretic acid from Machilus thunbergii down-regulates TGF-beta1 gene expression in activated hepatic stellate cells via inhibition of AP-1 activity. Planta Med 2005;71(5):393-398.
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Parle, M, Dhingra, D, and Kulkarni, SK. Improvement of mouse memory by Myristica fragrans seeds. J Med Food 2004;7(2):157-161.
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Sell, A. B. and Carlini, E. A. Anesthetic action of methyleugenol and other eugenol derivatives. Pharmacology 1976;14(4):367-377.
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Stein, U, Greyer, H, and Hentschel, H. Nutmeg (myristicin) poisoning--report on a fatal case and a series of cases recorded by a poison information centre. Forensic Sci Int 4-15-2001;118(1):87-90.
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Tajuddin, Ahmad, S, Latif, A, Qasmi, IA, et al. An experimental study of sexual function improving effect of Myristica fragrans Houtt. (nutmeg). BMC Complement Altern Med 2005;5:16.
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Tezuka, Y., Irikawa, S., Kaneko, T., et al. Screening of Chinese herbal drug extracts for inhibitory activity on nitric oxide production and identification of an active compound of Zanthoxylum bungeanum. J.Ethnopharmacol. 2001;77(2-3):209-217.
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Yang, S., Na, M. K., Jang, J. P., Kim, K. A., Kim, B. Y., Sung, N. J., Oh, W. K., and Ahn, J. S. Inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B by lignans from Myristica fragrans. Phytother Res 2006;20(8):680-682.
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