Javitri
Myristica fragrans
Javitri (Myristica fragrans) is a plant used in Ayurveda. Mace essential oil is richer in myristicin and macelignan. Myristicin absorption and metabolism profile similar to nutmeg. Macelignan shows good oral absorption with hepatoprotective activity.
| Botanical name | Myristica fragrans |
|---|---|
| Family | Myristicaceae |
| Order | Magnoliales |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 5406817 · Wikidata Q2724976 · NCBI Taxonomy 51089 |
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Javitri |
Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)
| Property | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rasa (Taste) | Katu, Tikta | Primary taste |
| Guna (Quality) | Laghu | Physical quality |
| Virya (Potency) | Ushna | Heating/Cooling effect |
| Vipaka (Post-digestive) | Katu | Post-digestive effect |
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Capsule, Essential oil, Tablet, Spice extract
Standard Dosage: 250-500mg powder with meals; 125-250mg extract; 1-2 drops essential oil externally
Bioavailability: Myristica fragrans mace (aril) has similar but distinct phytochemistry compared to nutmeg seed. Mace essential oil is richer in myristicin and macelignan. Myristicin absorption and metabolism profile similar to nutmeg. Macelignan shows good oral absorption with hepatoprotective activity. Mace oleoresin is lipophilic with good GI absorption when taken with food.
Optimal Timing: With meals for digestive support; in small doses as flavoring agent in formulations
Standardized Extract: Essential oil standardized to myristicin (10-18%) with safrole <1%; oleoresin (15-20% volatile oil content); powder with HPTLC fingerprint
Shelf Life: 2 years (whole mace); 1 year (ground powder); 3 years (essential oil, sealed); 3 years (capsule)
Storage: Cool, dry place below 25°C, protected from light. Whole mace more stable than ground. Amber containers for essential oil. Nitrogen-flushed packaging for ground mace.
Marker Compounds: Myristicin, Macelignan, Elemicin, Safrole (monitor and limit), Sabinene, Alpha-pinene, Myristic acid
Extraction Methods
- Steam distillation (essential oil, 4-17% yield from mace)
- Supercritical CO2 extraction
- Hydroalcoholic extraction (80:20)
- Oleoresin extraction (acetone or ethanol)
- Mechanical grinding for Churna
Synergistic Combinations
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Other clinical studies and reviews5
- 2022. Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) essential oil: A review on its composition, biological, and pharmacological activitiesPhytotherapy research : PTR. PMID 35567294 · doi:10.1002/ptr.7491
- 2022. Synthesis and Biological Activities of Dehydrodiisoeugenol: A ReviewPharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 36355523 · doi:10.3390/ph15111351
- 2021. Trends in Grinding of Agroindustrial Products-A Literature ReviewRecent patents on food, nutrition & agriculture. PMID 33238874 · doi:10.2174/2212798411666201125114243
- 2020. Phytochemical and pharmacological properties of Myristica fragrans Houtt.: an updated reviewArchives of pharmacal research. PMID 33206347 · doi:10.1007/s12272-020-01285-4
- 2006. Nutmeg PMID 30000898
Laboratory and animal studies7
- 2026. Macelignan, a lignan from Myristica fragrans Houtt., rescues mitochondrial homeostasis and prevents cognitive decline in vascular dementia by modulating the mTOR-Mitophagy axisJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 40946820 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2025.120603
- 2024. Neolignans and Diarylnonanoid Derivatives with Anti-inflammatory Activity from Myristica fragrans Houtt. SeedsACS omega. PMID 39157106 · doi:10.1021/acsomega.4c05649
- 2023. Effect of Simmering Technology on Components and Activity of Myristica fragrans HouttMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 38005349 · doi:10.3390/molecules28227627
- 2023. The Identification and Cytotoxic Evaluation of Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) and Its SubstituentsFoods (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 38231602 · doi:10.3390/foods12234211
- 2022. Phenylpropanoids and neolignans isolated from Myristica fragrans enhance glucose uptake in myotubesFood & function. PMID 35275149 · doi:10.1039/d1fo04408g
- 2021. Myristica fragrans promotes ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux in THP-1-derived macrophagesActa biochimica et biophysica Sinica. PMID 33434281 · doi:10.1093/abbs/gmaa146
- 2019. Prominent Pancreatic Lipase Inhibition and Free Radical Scavenging Activity of a Myristica fragrans Ethanolic Extract in vitro. Potential Role in Obesity TreatmentMaedica. PMID 31798741 · doi:10.26574/maedica.2019.14.3.254
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