Myristicaceae 
Myristica Gronov. 
The tree that yields the spices nutmeg and mace— Myristica 
fragrans Hout.—is thought to have been employed aboriginally 
as a narcotic in southeastern Asia, where it is native. It is 
sometimes used as an hallucinogen in sophisticated circles in 
Europe and North America and has occasionally become a 
problem in prisons in the United States (Panayotopoulos and 
Chisholm 1970; Weil 1965, 1966, 1967; Weiss 1960; Williams 
and West 1968). The toxicity of nutmeg, when either accidental- 
ly or knowingly ingested, is well documented (Green Jr. 1959; 
Painter et al. 1971; Payne 1963). 
Although the toxicology of nutmeg has not yet been fully 
explained, the psychoactive principles are associated probably 
with the essential oil present in the seed and aril. The composi- 
tion of the essential oil is highly variable, both qualitatively and 
quantitatively, but it does contain fatty acids, terpenes and 
aromatic compounds, especially arylbenzenoid derivatives. The 
major constituents of the essential oil appear to be elemicin (III), 
myristicin (IV) and safrole (V). Undoubtedly, all three of these 
compounds contribute to the psychotomimetic effect of nutmeg. 
All of these compounds can be visualized as precursors of 
amphetamines and might exert a sympathomimetic effect fol- 
lowing biotransformation. When nutmeg essential oil was in- 
jected into mice, a strong psychotomimetic effect was observed, 
which was greater than that produced by myristicin alone 
(Kalbhen 1971). 
143 
