Chemical constituents of Myristica fragrans Houttuyn seed and their physiological activities

Abstract

The antioxidative activity of phenylpropanoid compound extracts from nutmeg (Myristica fragragrans Houttuyn) seed was determined. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging method, superoxide disumutase assay, ferric thiocyanate assay, and radical-scavenging effect assay with electron-spin resonance. High antioxidant activity was found in monoterpenoid extracts including terpinene-4-ol (3), α-terpineol (4), and 4-allyl-2,6-dimethoxyphenol (12). Compound, 12 expressed particularly high antioxidant activity. © 2008 The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.