Bioactivities of Ethanolic Extracts of Three Parts (Wood, Nutmeg and Mace) from Myristica fragrans Houtt.
Saengnapa Champasuri BATM*, Arunporn Itharat PhD**,***
Affiliation : * Master Student of Science (Applied Thai Traditional Medicine), Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand ** Department of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand *** Center of Excellence on Applied Thai Traditional Medicine Research (CEATMR), Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand
Background : Myristica fragrans Houtt. is one of the spices that has long been used for treatment of various disorders.
M. fragrans is known as Chan-thet and its three parts i.e. wood, seed (nutmeg) and aril (mace), are ingredients in various
Thai traditional remedies such as anti-pyretic, anti-allergy, anti-inflammatory remedies.
Objective : To investigate the biological activities of ethanolic extracts obtained from wood, nutmeg and mace of M. fragrans
according to the uses in Thai traditional medicine follow as: anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and antioxidant activities.
Material and Method: Three parts of M. fragrans (wood, nutmeg and mace) were macerated with 95% ethanol. The extracts
were examined for anti-inflammatory activity by determination of inhibitory effect on LPS induced nitric oxide production
release in RAW 264.7 cell lines, anti-oxidant activity by inhibitory effect on PMA-induce superoxide radical in DMSO-
differentiated from HL-60 cells, and anti-allergic activity by determining inhibitory activity of β-hexosaminidase release on
RBL-2H3 cells.
Results : The ethanolic extract of wood presented potent anti-inflammatory activity more than nutmeg and mace (IC50 values
= 40.26+0.58, 65.42+4.95 and 75.40+4.14 μg/ml, respectively). Nutmeg and mace showed high anti-oxidant activity while
wood showed moderate activity (IC50 values = 21.164+1.03, 28.897+0.39 and 71.830+1.33 μg/ml, respectively). The
extracts obtained from the three parts (wood, nutmeg and mace) showed strong anti-allergic activity (IC50 values = 13.29+0.28,
20.90+1.03 and 12.95+0.89 μg/ml respectively).
Conclusion : The extracts obtained from wood of M. fragrans showed high anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activities but
moderate anti-oxidant. The extracts of nutmeg and mace presented high anti-oxidant and anti-allergic activities but less anti-
inflammatory activity. Therefore, extract of wood should be selected for treatment of diseases that related with inflammation
while the extracts of nutmeg and/or mace should be used as an antioxidant. Finally, extracts of all 3 parts of M. fragrans could
be used for allergy-related diseases because all parts showed potent activity in anti-allergy, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
roles. However, the further study should be performed in animal models for investigation of each activity of active compounds
following bioassay guided isolation.
Keywords : Myristica fragrans, Houtt., β-hexosaminidase, Nitric oxide, Superoxide radical
