Myristicin hallucinogenicity

Nutmeg Myristica fragrans (Myristicaceae) seed 5-16 sabinene (17-28) a-pinene (14-22) P-pinene (9-15) terpinen-4-ol (6-9) myristicin (4-8) elemicin (2) flavour, carminative, aromatherapy although the main constituents are terpenoids, most of the flavour comes from the minor aromatic constituents, myristicin, elemicin, etc myristicin is hallucinogenic (see page 385)... 

In low doses nutmeg, which contains 30-40% fat and 10-15% essential oil, is an excellent spice. The main ingredients of the essential oil are terpenes and also the substances myristicin and elemicin. Both substances are pharmacologically inactive, but in the human body they are partly transformed into amphetamine-derivatives, which have a hallucinogenic action. This action is seen after intake of large amounts of nutmeg. 

Hallucinogenic effects from nutmeg can be achieved from doses of 5-30 g. Also, elemicin and myristicin, which are present in this familiar spice, can be converted by transamination reactions to the two phenylethylamines 3,4,5-trimethoxy-amphetamine (TMA) and 3-methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxyamphet-amine (MMDA), whose psychoactive effects are well known (see Fig. 6-1). Nutmeg oil is also consumed in closed wards and prisons [3,15]. 

These important products are not all synthetic. The oral consumption of 5-30 g nutmeg will produce hallucinogenic and entactogenic effects. The two constituents elemicine and myristicine (see Fig. 6-1) are converted by transamination in the liver to 3,4,5-trimethoxyamphetamine and MMDA [15]. 

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