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Natural Bio-active Compounds pp 81–106Cite as

Myristica fragrans Houtt.: Botanical, Pharmacological, and Toxicological Aspects

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Abstract

Myristica fragrans is a fragrant tree, known for its commercial spicy products, namely, the nutmeg, mace, and essential oil, which are predominantly used in flavor, fragrance, and pharmaceutical industries. Being one of the popular spices in the culinary sector, the plant products are traditionally used in folk medicines for treating various human ailments. Its therapeutic potentials include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive, anti-obesity, antiangiogenic, neuroprotective, analgesic, antithrombotic, antifeedant, hepatoprotective, insecticidal, aphrodisiac, radioprotective properties, and many more. Also, the plant is noted for its hallucinogenic or narcotic-like properties. The clinical evidences have suggested about the intoxication, poisonings, and adverse effects of M. fragrans. The present chapter provides a comprehensive information on the botanical, pharmacological, and toxicological aspects of M. fragrans products.

Greetha Arumugam and Mallappa Kumara Swamy have equally contributed for this chapter.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

      Greetha Arumugam

    2. Department of Biotechnology, East West First Grade College of Science, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

      Boregowda Purushotham & Mallappa Kumara Swamy

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    1. Department of Biotechnology, East West First Grade College of Science, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

      Mallappa Kumara Swamy

    2. Department of Botany, Gandhi Faiz-e-Aam College, Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

      Mohd Sayeed Akhtar

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    Arumugam, G., Purushotham, B., Swamy, M.K. (2019). Myristica fragrans Houtt.: Botanical, Pharmacological, and Toxicological Aspects. In: Swamy, M., Akhtar, M. (eds) Natural Bio-active Compounds. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7205-6_4

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