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Nutmeg Details & Specifications |
| Useful
Link |
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| Botanical Name |
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Myristica fragrans Houtt. |
| English Name |
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Nutmeg |
| Hindi Name |
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Jaiphal |
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| CATEGORY |
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Carminative |
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| SOURCE |
| Part used |
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State of the part used |
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Seeds |
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N/A |
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N/A |
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| FAMILY |
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Myristicaceae |
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| GEOGRAPHICAL SOURCE |
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The plant is indigenous to East Indies and is found in following countries :-
Ceylon
East Indies
Java
Molucca islands
Penang
Singapore
Sumatra
West Indies
The plant is indigenous to East Indies and is now widely cultivated in various other parts of the world. In India it is cultivated to a very limited extent in the Coonoor valley on the eastern side of the Nilgiris and in the Courtallum hills further south.
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| IDENTIFICATION |
| Organoleptic characteristics |
| Colour |
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| Odour |
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Aromatic and characteristic |
| Taste |
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Aromatic and bitter |
| Size |
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Kernels are ovoid about 2-3 cm. long and 1-5-2 cm. broad with light brown surface and shows a network of shallow reticulate grooves marked with numerous small dark-brown points and lines. |
| Physical
Standards |
| Total Ash |
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N/A |
| Moisture |
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N/A |
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| CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS |
| Major |
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Major chemical constituents responsible for physicochemical and therapeutic action of the herb are :-
Volatile oil (5-15 %)
Fixed oil (25 ? 40%)
Myristic acid (about 61 %)
Palmitic acids
Oleic acid
Linoleic acid
Lauric acids.
Nutmeg contains 5-15 per cent of a volatile oil to which it owes its medicinal value, and 25-40 per cent of a fixed oil. The fixed oil yields a solid fat nutmeg butter, which is yellowish in colour. The fatty acids consist mainly of myristic acid (About 61 per cent) with smaller amounts of palmitic, oleic, linoleic and lauric acids.
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| Minor |
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In minor proportion this drug contains :--
Aromatic Balsam
Starch
Fibrous Matter
Terpineol
Borneol
Linalol
Geraniol
Safrole
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| CULTIVATION |
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It is a tall, glabrous tree with coriaceous leaves 5-12.5 cm. long, petioled, elliptic or oblong-lanceolate and pale yellow-brown in colour. Male racemes are 2 to 5.5 cm. Flowers about 6 mm. long are bracteolate, ellipsoid or urceolate. |
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| STORAGE |
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To maintain physicochemical properties and medicinal values of the herb it is recommended to maintain following storage conditions :-
Air tight containers
Protection from light
Protection from moisture
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