Extraction of nutmegs

Essential oil distilled from the ethnolic extract of nutmeg contained a relatively higher content of terpinen-4-ol, elemicin and myristicin and a lower content of sabinene and pinene compared with the steam-distilled oil (Borges and Pino, 1993). Zhu et al. (1995) reported that nutmeg oil from Guangdong, China, contained 27.63% a-pinene, 26.84% sabinene, 15.52% P-pinene and 7.39% myr-isticine besides the minor constituents. 

The ethanolic extract of nutmeg kernels showed hypolipidaemic effect in albino rabbits. Administration of 500mg/kg of the extract daily for a period of 60 days in the hyperlipidaemic rabbits resulted in significantly lower levels of lipoprotein lipids (total cholesterol 574 61 versus 210 27mg/dl low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol 493 57 versus 131 25mg/dl and triglycerides 108 14 versus 67 in control versus experimental) (Ram et al., 1996). 

An ether extraction of nutmeg gives large quantities of trimyristin, a waxy crystalline solid of melting point 57 °C. The IR spectrum of trimyristin shows a very strong absorption at 1733 cm-1. Basic hydrolysis of trimyristin gives 1 equivalent of glycerol and 3 equivalents of myristic acid (tetradecanoic acid). 

Sherry, CJ. etaL 19S2. The phaimacolog-ical effects of a ligroin extract of nutmeg I rinicafiagrans) JoumalofEthnophetr-macolog 6(1) 61-66. 

The nutmeg must first be moistened with ether, otherwise the extraction takes much longer. The author has found this a])])aratus to be generally satisfactory for the extraction of vegetable drugs with volatile solvents. 

Lipids, relatively nonpolar chemical substances found in plant, bacterial, and animal cells, are among the most ubiquitous of biomolecules. In this experiment, a lipid extract of ground nutmeg will be purified by chromatography on a silica gel column. Analysis of the lipid extract by thin-layer chromatography will provide the classification of the components in the extract. The unknown lipids will be further characterized by saponification and analysis of the fatty acid content by gas chromatography. For an abbreviated experiment, students may be provided samples of natural oils and fats that can be analyzed by saponification and gas chromatography. 

B 8. What is the identity of the lipid that was extracted from nutmeg seed B 9. What is the function of BF3 in the formation of FAMEs ... 

Dl.l Extraction and Measurement of Total Lipids Basic Protocol 1 Solvent Extraction of Oilseeds, Nutmeg, and Other Foods Dl.1.1... 

SOLVENT EXTRACTION OF OILSEEDS, NUTMEG, AND OTHER FOODS USING THE SOXHLET METHOD... 

Brandy or alcohol extracts of spices and herbs may be used for flavoring vermouth (Rizzo, 1957). Spices like anola, and ginger are known to possess medicinal properties, as well as antimicrobial activities (Joshi and John, 2002). The precise details of extraction differ among manufactures. The more important botanical constituents include coriander, cloves, chamomile, dittany of Crete, orris, and quassia. Additional flavorant may include allspice, angelica, anise, bitter almond, cinchona, coriander, juniper, nutmeg, orange peel, and rhubarb. 

Moyler et al. (1994) reported that C02 extract of West Indian nutmeg contained sabinene (20.7%), oc-pinene (6.4%), P-pinene (5.5%), limonene (2.8%) and elemicin (3.1%) as major components. 

Ehlers, D., Kirchhoff, J., Gerard, D. and Quirin, K.W. (1 998) High performance liquid chromatography analysis of nutmeg and mace oils produced by supercritical C02 extraction - comparison with steam distilled oils, comparison of East Indian, West Indian and Papuan oils. International Journal of Food Science and Technology 33(3), 215-223. 

Moyler, D.A., Bowing, R.M. and Stevens, M.A. (1994) C02 extraction of essential oils. PartV. Nutmeg and mace oils. In Charalambous, C. (ed.) Spices, Herbs and Edible Fungi. Elsevier Science, B.V., Amsterdam, pp. 145-170. 

Spricigo, C.B., Pinto, L.T., Bolzan, A. and Novais, A.F. (1 999) Extraction of essential oil and lipids from nutmeg by liquid carbon dioxide. Journal of Supercritical Fluids 15, 253-259. 

Extraction process 4 Extraction of Myristicin from nutmeg or nutmeg butter... 

Method 1 Extraction of myristicin from store bought nutmeg... 

It can be seen on figure 3, that extraction pressures between 600 and 850 bar give the best results. After an extraction time of one hour, which is a minimum for production plants, an extraction yield of 90% at 700 bar and 80% at 600 bar was obtained. To reach 90% at 500 bar 3 hours are necessary, which is too long for an economical production of a cheap product like coriander extract. The extraction behaviours of nutmeg and mace are similar but the viscosity of extract is higher for nutmeg and lower for mace compared to coriander extract. 

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