GC-MS analysis of essential oil from the seeds of Myristica fragrans Houtt in Indonesia

Objective: To analyze the chemical constituents of the essential oil extracted from the seeds of Myristica fragrans Houtt.(nutmeg) in Indonesia and to provide qualities control scientific foundations.Methods: The essential oil was extracted by steam distillation and separated with GC capillary column.The relative content of every compound was determined by normalization method and the chemical compositions were evaluated by GC-MS.Results: Ninety-three chromatographic peaks were isolated and sixty-one compounds were identified,accounting for 97.62% of the total essential oil in nutmeg.Conclusion: The essential components of nutmeg in Indonesia is monoterpenoids and it's derivatives,accounting for 78.87% of the total essential oil.And phenolic compounds were the secondary composition,accounting for 16.79%.The essential oil contains safrole,which can induce genetoxicity and mutagenicity in animal,and myristicin and elemicin which can induce illusion.So,it must be careful when Myristica fragrans Houtt was used.