ABSTRACT
Myristicin belongs to the family of the allylbenzenes, also known as alkenylbenzenes or phenylpropenes. Human exposure to myristicin is mainly due to consumption of spices such as nutmeg, basil, cinnamon, clove, star anise, and plants from the Apiaceae family, which include dill, celery, anise, parsnip, fennel, parsley, and carrot. Myristicin can also be found in some of these plant's essential oils, such as oils of clove, marjoram, bay leaf, and cinnamon leaf. This chapter discusses intoxication by nutmeg, given that myristicin is the major component of nutmeg and the possible hallucinogenic agent in nutmeg and mace. The effect in motor performance of rats and mice was studied, and myristicin caused catatonia and decreased motor activity in mice. Myristicin also disrupted rope-climbing and bar-pressing performances of rats.
