Question: What is the active chemical component in nutmeg and what are the toxicological effects associated with this this compound?
Answer: The cited article notes “Nutmeg is used as a native medication and is believed to have antidiarrhoeal and carminative properties. The active component in nutmeg is myristicin (5-allyl-1- methoxy-2,3-methylenedioxybenzene). Myristicin is a weak monoamine oxidase inhibitor, which has both cardiovascular and CNS effects. It also has hallucinogenic properties making it a potential drug of abuse. Poisoning due to myristicin is known to cause convulsions and delirium.” (Sivathanu S et al Myristicin and phenytoin toxicity in an infant. BMJ Case Rep Published online: doi:10.1136/bcr-2013-203000)
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