Editing Nutmeg (section)

=== Essential oil ===
The essential oil obtained by [[steam distillation]] of ground nutmeg<ref name="fao">{{cite web|title=Description of components of nutmeg|url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/v4084e/v4084e04.htm|publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations|date=September 1994|access-date=2017-04-13|archive-date=2017-05-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170529061404/http://www.fao.org/docrep/v4084e/v4084e04.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> is used in the [[perfumery]] and [[pharmaceutical]] industries. The [[Volatile organic compound|volatile]] fraction contains dozens of [[terpene]]s and [[phenylpropanoid]]s, including {{sc|D}}-[[pinene]], [[limonene]], {{sc|D}}-[[borneol]], {{sc|L}}-[[terpineol]], [[geraniol]], [[safrole]], and [[myristicin]].<ref name=fao/><ref>{{cite journal|pmc=5222521|year=2016|last1=Abourashed|first1=E. A.|title=Chemical diversity and pharmacological significance of the secondary metabolites of nutmeg (''Myristica fragrans'' Houtt.)|journal=Phytochemistry Reviews|volume=15|issue=6|pages=1035–1056|last2=El-Alfy|first2=A. T.|pmid=28082856|doi=10.1007/s11101-016-9469-x|bibcode=2016PChRv..15.1035A }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|pmid=22429024|year=2012|last1=Piras|first1=A.|title=Extraction and separation of volatile and fixed oils from seeds of ''Myristica fragrans'' by supercritical CO<sub>2</sub>: Chemical composition and cytotoxic activity on Caco-2 cancer cells|journal=Journal of Food Science|volume=77|issue=4|pages=C448–53|last2=Rosa|first2=A.|last3=Marongiu|first3=B.|last4=Atzeri|first4=A.|last5=Dessì|first5=M. A.|last6=Falconieri|first6=D.|last7=Porcedda|first7=S.|doi=10.1111/j.1750-3841.2012.02618.x}}</ref> In its pure form, myristicin is a [[toxicity|toxin]], and consumption of excessive amounts of nutmeg can result in myristicin poisoning.<ref name=jmt/>

The oil is colorless or light yellow, and smells and tastes of nutmeg. It is used as a natural food flavoring in [[baked goods]], syrups, beverages, and sweets. It is used to replace ground nutmeg, as it leaves no particles in the food. The essential oil is also used in the manufacturing of [[toothpaste]] and [[cough syrup]]s.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dKA5DwAAQBAJ&q=nutmeg+essential+oil+toothpaste+cough+syrup&pg=PA21|title=Grenada: Carriacou and Petite Martinique|last=Crask|first=Paul|date=2017-11-05|publisher=Bradt Travel Guides|isbn=9781784770624|language=en|access-date=2020-10-06|archive-date=2023-06-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630115035/https://books.google.com/books?id=dKA5DwAAQBAJ&q=nutmeg+essential+oil+toothpaste+cough+syrup&pg=PA21|url-status=live}}</ref>