Pharmacological Influence of Nutmeg and Nutmeg Constituents on Rabbit Platelet Function

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Abstract
Pharmacological properties of nutmeg components in relation to prostaglandin biosynthesis were investigated. Only the volatile oil contained the active principles. Several batches of oils showed the same anti-aggregating activity on rabbit platelets aggregated with arachidonic acid (AA). The most active products present in nutmeg oil were eugenol and isoeugenol. These aromatic ethers were equipotent to indomethacin. Other active products, in decreasing order of potency, were the aromatic ethers safrole, myristicin and elemicin, the monoterpene hydrocarbon limonene, and the monoterpene alcohols α-terpineol, terpinene-4-ol and linalool. The major monoterpene hydrocarbons including α- and β-pinene and camphene however, which constitute the oil for about 50%, were inactive.