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.
  View Abstract
• Burdock, G. A. and Carabin, I. G. Safety assessment of myristic acid as a food ingredient. Food Chem.Toxicol. 2007;45(4):517-529.
  View Abstract
• 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.
  View Abstract
• 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.
  View Abstract
• Forrest, J. E. and Heacock, R. A. Nutmeg and mace, the psychotropic spices from Myristica fragrans. Lloydia. 1972;35(4):440-449.
  View Abstract
• 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.
  View Abstract
• 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.
  View Abstract
• 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.
  View Abstract
• 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.
  View Abstract
• Parle, M, Dhingra, D, and Kulkarni, SK. Improvement of mouse memory by Myristica fragrans seeds. J Med Food 2004;7(2):157-161.
  View Abstract
• Sell, A. B. and Carlini, E. A. Anesthetic action of methyleugenol and other eugenol derivatives. Pharmacology 1976;14(4):367-377.
  View Abstract
• 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.
  View Abstract
• 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.
  View Abstract
• 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.
  View Abstract
• 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.
  View Abstract