Nutmeg/Nutmeg butter

Latin name: myristica/ myristica oblongata

Common name: nutmeg butter

Cultural significance/history: protection against evil

Active ingredient: myristicin, sabinene

Where its found naturally: native to Indonesia- found in west indies

Uses/indications: Insect repellent and Psychotropic drug, treats stomach pain, diarrhoea and rheumatoid arthritis

Contraindication/ Drug-Drug interactions: can be converted into MMDMA (similar structure and effect to MDMA, those on SSRIs or MAOs should not take them

Site of action and mechanism of action: may act as a serotonin receptor agonist and a hallucinogenic compound, also a weak MAO inhibitor. Sabinene inhibits the activation of proinflammatory cytokines, and alleviates chronic pain.

Side effects: can cause release of Cytochrome C, dizziness, hallucinations, feelings of euphoria, tachycardia, anxiety, hypertension. Has been shown to cause oedema in animal studies.

Dosage/ administration: over 5g of nutmeg can produce hallucinogenic effects and nutmeg intoxication

Samples #30/43, 31/43

References list for Nutmeg and Nutmeg Butter:

Wikipedia. (2022b). Myristicin. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myristicin.

Barceloux, D.G. (2009). Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.). Disease-a-Month, [online] 55(6), pp.373–379. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.disamonth.2009.03.007.

Wang, Z., Zhang, R., Yang, Q., Zhang, J., Zhao, Y., Zheng, Y. and Yang, J. (2021). Recent advances in the biosynthesis of isoprenoids in engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae. [online] Science Direct. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/sabinene.