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The plant Myristica malabarica Lamk. is traditionally used as a medicine and spices in food . It is belonging to family Myristicaceae. The plant is native to India and endangered trees are mostly found in western ghat. Extracted with various solvents by successive soxhlet hot extraction processs with increasing order of polarity on phytochemical investigation. The extract has shown alkaloids, saponin, tannin and flavones glycosides. It has important medicinal uses like Ayurvedic Medicines. It is traditionally used as anticancer, antiInflammatory, anti-Oxidant, Sedative hypnotics, Antimicrobial, Antifertility, Hepatoprotective and cytotoxicity. The chemical constituents such as Malabaricones, Malabaricanol, Isoflavones are isolated .Myristica Fragrans also known as fragnant Nutmeg or true Nutmeg. The present study i.e. Pharmacognostic, Phytochemical, Physicochemical and TLC Profile Study of Mace (Aril) Of Myristica malabarica Lamk. is helpful in the characterization of the crude drug. Physiochemical and phyto-chemical analysis of mace confirm the quality and purity of plant and its identification. The information collected is useful for further pharmacological and therapeutical evaluation of mace (Aril) Of Myristica malabarica Lamk. and anthology of quality control of crude drug.

Efficient and sensitive LC–MS/MS methods have been developed for the rapid screening and determination of bioactive compounds in different fruit parts of four Myristica species, viz., Myristica beddomeii , Myristica fragrans , Myristica fatua and Myristica malabarica . Twenty-one compounds were identified and characterized on the basis of their accurate mass and MS/MS fragmentation pattern using HPLC-QTOF-MS/MS and NMR analysis. Quantitative determination of five major bioactive compounds was performed using multiple-reaction monitoring mode with continuous polarity switching by UHPLC-QqQ LIT -MS/MS. Moreover, in vitro antiproliferative activity of these Myristica species was evaluated against five human cancer cell lines A549, DLD-1, DU145, FaDu and MCF-7 using SRB assay. Seventeen phytoconstituents were identified and reported for the first time from M. beddomeii and sixteen from M. fatua. Quantification result showed highest total content of five major bioactive compounds in mace of M. fragrans . Evaluation of in vitro antiproliferative activity revealed potent activity in all investigated species except M. fragrans.

The title compound, C21H26O5, an aryl cyclohexyl nonanoid {systematic name: 3,5-dihydroxy-2-[9-(4-hydroxyphenyl)nonanoyl]cyclohexa-2,4-dien-1-one}, extracted from the spice plantMyristica malabaricacomprises two ring components, a 4-hydroxyphenyl moiety and a 3,5-dihydroxycyclohexa-2,4-dienone moiety linked by a nonanoyl chain. The molecule has an extended essentially planar conformation stabilized by an intramolecular hydroxy O—H...Ocarbonylhydrogen bond, giving a dihedral angle between the two ring systems of 6.37 (15)°. The C, O and H atoms associated with one of the hydroxy groups of the cyclohexadienone component are disordered over two sets of sites with site occupancies of 0.6972 and 0.3028. In the crystal, hydroxy O—H...O hydrogen bonds to carbonyl O-atom acceptors form large centrosymmetricR22(36) cyclic dimers, which are further extended into supramolecular one-dimensional ribbon structures along [1-11].

Background: Among the various modalities of anti-cancer treatment, cancer chemotherapy plays a very vital role. The alarming side effects being its main drawback leads to relentless research for newer agents. A new natural agent with promising anti-cancer properties from in-vitro studies leads to this study. Here we have evaluated the anti-tumor activity of a crude extract of fruit rind of Myristica malabarica in an Ehrlich ascites carcinoma model in mice.Methods: A murine model of cancer was established with i.p. inoculation of Ehrlich Ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells; animals were divided into five groups (including normal control) to observe the inhibitory effect of a crude extract of the fruit rind of Myristica malabarica/rampatri (0-100mg/kg b.w. i.p.) as compared with methotrexate (0.4mg/kg bw., i.p.). Blood and ascitic fluid were collected on the 10th day for analysis.Results: In the EAC model, there was an increase in tumor volume, tumor weight, and tumor packed cell volume, which was decreased by rampatri (50 and 100mg/kg bw) along with an increase in the mean survival time (MST). Rampatri caused minimal alterations in hematological parameters, renal functions remained unchanged but an increase in hepatic SGOT was demonstrated.Conclusions: The crude extract of rampatri (containing Malabaricones) exhibited significant anti-tumor activity with minimal effect on hematological and renal functions.

The title compound, C20H32O3, was isolated from the Indian spiceM. malabarica. It is built up by a C—C linkage between a 2,6-dihydroxyphenyl moiety and the terminal carbonyl C atom of tetradecanal, which has an extended chain conformation. There is an intramolecular O—H...O hydrogen bond enclosing anS(6) ring motif. In the crystal, molecules are linked by O—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming zigzag chains propagating along [001]. The chains pack in a herringbone arrangement up theaaxis.

This paper gives an account of three Asterina species infecting members of the family Myristicaceae, namely, Asterina knemae attenuatae infected the leaves of Knema attenuata, Asterina myristicae infecting the leaves of Myristica sp. and Asterina myristicacearum infecting the leaves of Myristica malabarica. Of these, Asterina myristicae and Asterina myristicacearum are found to be new species. All these three species are described and illustrated in detail and a key is provided to them. Key to all the species of the genus Asterina reported on Myristicaceae is also supplanted to this study.

Spices are extensively used to enhance the taste and flavor of foods and are known to possess several medicinal properties. Myristica fragrans, Parmelia perlata, Illicium verum, Trachyspermum copticum and Myristica malabarica, the commonly used spices in India were assessed for antidiabetic activity in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. In the in vitro insulin secretion studies on isolated islets of Langerhans, M. fragrans, T. copticum and M. malabarica showed dose dependent insulin secretion. At 1 mg/ml, P. perlata showed significant in vitro alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC(50) value of 0.14 mg/ml followed by M. malabarica (0.64 mg/ml), I. verum (0.67 mg/ml), M. fragrans (0.85 mg/ml) and T. copticum (0.92 mg/ml). The DPPH free radical scavenging activity of the extracts at a concentration of 1 mg/ml was as M. malabarica (90.45%), M. fragrans (89.89%), I. verum (87.22%), P. perlata (76.70%) and T. copticum (38.14%). P. perlata showed the highest phenolic content (i.e., 118.5 mg gallic acid equivalents/g) followed by M. malabarica (84.13 mg gallic acid equivalents/g). M. malabarica showed the highest flavonoid content (i.e., 38.35 mg quercetin equivalents/g). Regular use of these spices may prevent postprandial rise in glucose levels through inhibition of intestinal alpha-glucosidase and may maintain blood glucose level through insulin secretagogue action.

Earlier we had shown that on the 3 (rd) day of its administration to mice, indomethacin (18 mg kg (-1), P. O.) produced maximum stomach ulceration with a damage score of 3.46, which was reduced by a 3-day treatment with the methanol extract of Myristica malabarica (40 mg kg (-1), P. O.) and omeprazole (3 mg kg (-1), P. O.) to 0.95 and 0.82, respectively. Presently, we investigated the possible role of the test samples in modulating PG synthesis and angiogenesis for their healing action. The ulceration was found to be associated with suppression of PGE (2), VEGF and vWF VIII, and an increase in EGF and endostatin levels. Treatment with the plant extract reversed all these parameters accounting for its healing activity. However, despite providing similar healing, omeprazole did not alter these parameters.

In a search for plant extracts with in vivo antifungal activity for plant diseases, we found that the methanol extract of Myristica malabarica fruit rinds effectively suppressed the development of several plant diseases. The methanol extract exhibited potent 1-day protective activity against rice blast, tomato late blight, wheat leaf rust and red pepper anthracnose. It also showed 7-day and 4-day protective activities against the plant diseases. Three antifungal resorcinols were isolated from the methanol extract of M. malabarica fruit rinds and identified as malabaricones A(MA), B(MB), and C(MC). Inhibitory activity of the three resorcinols against mycelial growth of plant pathogenic fungi varied according to compound and target species. All three compounds effectively reduced the development of rice blast, wheat leaf rust and red pepper anthracnose. In addition, MC was highly active for reducing the development of tomato late blight. This is the first report on the antifungal activities of malabaricones against filamentous fungi.

Plant extracts from 50 plant species were tested for their nematicidal activities against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, the causative agent of pine wilt disease. Out of 50 extracts, the methanol extract of Myristica malabarica fruit rinds showed the most potent nematicidal activity with mortality of 100% at a concentration of 1000 μg ml–1 against B. xylophilus. Three nematicidal substances were isolated by bioassay-guided fractionation and then identified as malabaricones A, B and C by mass and NMR spectral data. Both malabaricones B and C showed higher activity than malabaricone A. There was a significant synergistic interaction between the three compounds on the pine wood nematode. When the combination of three compounds at a ratio of 1 : 1 : 1 was applied, its EC50 value was 11.8 μg ml–1. These results indicate that the extract of M. malabarica containing the three resorcinols could be useful as a natural nematicide for the control of pine wilt disease.

A major problem in the management of visceral leishmaniasis, especially in the Indian subcontinent, is the growing unresponsiveness to conventional antimonial therapy, indicating the urgent need to identify new antileishmanial compounds. This study was undertaken to evaluate the antileishmanial activity of the fruit rind of Myristica malabarica that is used as a spice and is also credited with medicinal properties. The antipromastigote activity of different extracts/fractions of M. malabarica and its constituent diarylnonanoids were evaluated in Leishmania donovani promastigotes (MHOM/IN/83/AG83) using the MTS-PMS assay. Preliminary screening of the ether extract (R1) with its crude methanol fraction (R2) and two fractions (R3 and R4) revealed that R2 had potent leishmanicidal activity (IC50 31.0 µg/mL), whereas R3 and R4 showed poor activity. Fractionation of R2 yielded four diarylnonanoids (malabaricones A–D, designated as Mal A, Mal B, Mal C and Mal D, respectively). The IC50 values of Mal A–D were 16, 22, 27 and >50 µg/mL, respectively. Taken together, the data suggest that the methanol extract of M. malabarica, especially its constituent compounds, Mal A and Mal B, have promising antileishmanial activity meriting further investigations regarding the underlying molecular mechanism(s) of action with a view towards future drug development. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay of the ether, methanol, and aqueous extracts of the spice Myristica malabarica (rampatri) revealed the methanol extract to possess the best antioxidant activity. Column chromatography of the methanol extract led to the isolation of a new 2-acylresorcinol and four known diarylnonanoids of which the diarylnonanoid, malabaricone C, showed the maximum DPPH scavenging activity. Malabaricone C could prevent both Fe(II)- and 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane)dihydrochloride-induced lipid peroxidation (LPO) of rat liver mitochondria more efficiently than curcumin. The anti-LPO activity of malabaricone C was attributed to its better radical scavenging and Fe(II) chelation capacities. The superior activity of malabaricone C was rationalized by a systematic structure-activity correlation of the results obtained with the structurally related diarylnonanoids and curcumin. Malabaricone C also prevented the gamma-ray-induced damage of pBR322 plasmid DNA in a concentration-dependent manner. The radioprotective activity was found to correlate with its (*)OH radical scavenging property, which matched well with that of d-mannitol.

The Myristicaceae family is a primitive angiosperm family and is characterized by species that are highly endemic to the Western Ghats area of India. Myristica malabarica is confined to the evergreen forests of Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. In this paper we describe for the first time the development of eleven polymorhpic microsatellite markers for Myristica malabarica, which had 2-14 alleles per locus. These microsatellite markers could be used to study the population genetic structure of the species.

Essential oils from the leaves of Myristica malabarica and Gymnacranthera canarica (Myristicaceae) were isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC/FID and GC/MS. Seventy-six constituents (98.5%) with β-caryophyllene (27.3%), α-humulene (13.8%) and α-copaene (11.5%) as major components were identifed from the leaf oil of M. malabarica. Also, seventy-six constituents (98.1%) with β-caryophyllene (23.4%), linalool (13.4%) and α-humulene (11.3%) as major constituents were identified from the leaf oil of G. canarica. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons constituted 77.3% in M. malabarica leaf oil and 58.1% in G. canarica leaf oil.

Phytochemical investigation of the heartwood of Myristica malabarica has led to the isolation of the new 7,4′-dimethoxy-5-hydroxyisoflavone together with two other isoflavones, biochanin A and prunetin, and a 1,3-diarylpropanol and a rare α-hydroxydihydrochalcone.

The role of the arginine-metabolism in the healing action of the Myristica malabarica phenol malabaricone B (mal B) and omeprazole against indomethacin-induced stomach ulceration in mouse was investigated. Indomethacin (18 mg kg- 1) was found to induce maximum stomach ulceration in Swiss albino mice on the 3rd day of its administration, which was associated with reduced arginase activity (30.8%, P0.01), eNOS expression, along with increased iNOS expression, total NOS activity (5.55 folds, P0.001), NO generation (2.19 folds, P0.001), and ratio of pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokines. Besides providing comparable healing as omeprazole (3 mg kg- 1 x 3 days), mal B (10 mg kg- 1 x 3 days, p. o.) shifted the iNOS/NO axis to the arginase/polyamine axis as revealed from the increased arginase activity (51.6%, P0.001), eNOS expression, and reduced iNOS expression, total NOS activity (approximately 75%, P0.001), and NO level (50.6%, P0.01). These could be attributed to a favourable anti/pro inflammatory cytokines ratio, generated by mal B. The healing by omeprazole was however, not significantly associated with those parameters.

The study was conducted in three sacred groves which are located in three distinctive regions of Kannur district of Kerala. Data were collected using square quadrats (20 x 20 m size) randomly placed on the forest floor of each selected site. Vegetation structure and floral composition were assessed to invent the plants present there. A total of 107 species were identified from the Poongottu kavu constituted of trees, shrubs, herbs etc. 38 species from Thaya kavu and 43 species from Chekkicheri kavu were identified. Ferns, Nonvascular plants, gymnosperms and lianas were mostly observed in these groves. Endemism was mostly observed in Poongottu kavu and most of them found as threatened. 17 endemic species including the abundant Myristica malabarica was identified. 11 threatened plants were also found out. A critically endangered tree species, Vateria indica identified from the Poongottu kavu which also estimated as the endemic tree to southern Western Ghats.

The healing activity of the methanol extract of the spice rampatri, Myristica malabarica, (RM) and omeprazole against indometacin-induced stomach ulceration has been studied in a mouse model. Treatment with RM (40 mg kg−1 per day) and omeprazole (3 mg kg−1 per day) for 3 days could effectively heal the stomach ulceration, as revealed from the ulcer indices and histopathological studies. Compared with the ulcerated group, treatment with RM and omeprazole for 3 days reduced the macroscopic damage score by approximately 72% and 76%, respectively (P < 0.001), establishing the efficacy of RM. The extent of ulcer healing offered by 3 days' treatment with RM or omeprazole was better than that observed with natural recovery over 5 and 7 days (P < 0.05). The healing capacities of RM and omeprazole could be attributed to their antioxidant activity as well as the ability to enhance the mucin content of the gastric tissues. Both drugs reduced lipid peroxidation (by 42–44%) and protein carbonyl content (by 34%), and augmented non-protein thiol levels beyond normal values. Furthermore, RM improved the mucin level beyond the normal value, while omeprazole restored it to near normalcy.

The healing activity of malabaricone B and malabaricone C, the major antioxidant constituents of the spice Myristica malabarica against the indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration in mice has been studied. The histological indices revealed maximum ulceration on the 3rd day after indomethacin administration, which was effectively healed by malabaricone B, malabaricone C (each 10 mg/kg body weight/day) and omeprazole (3 mg/kg body weight/day) for 3 days. Compared to the untreated ulcerated mice, treatment with malabaricone B, malabaricone C and omeprazole reduced the ulcer indices by 60.3% (P

The superoxide-scavenging and prolyl endopeptidase (PEP) inhibitory activities of 15 different kinds of Bangladeshi medicinal plants were evaluated. Methanol extraction was performed for the screening tests. Swertia chirata, Emblica officinalis, Zingiber officinale and Myristica malabarica were screened as superoxide-scavenging samples. Similarly, E. officinalis was identified as one of the strongest PEP inhibitory samples. The 50% (O2-)-scavenging and PEP-inhibitory concentrations from E. officinalis methanol extracts were found to be 13.17 and 26.10 microg/ml, respectively.

Phytochemical investigation of the heartwood of Myristica malabarica has led to the isolation of the new 7,4'-dimethoxy-5-hydroxyisoflavone together with two other isoflavones, biochanin A and prunetin, and a 1,3-diarylpropanol and a rare alpha-hydroxydihydrochalcone.

The title compound, malabaricone A [systematic name: 1-(2,6-dihydroxyphenyl)-9-phenylnonan-1-one], C21H26O3, contains two benzene rings linked through a C9 alkyl chain. Both intra- and intermolecular O—H...O hydrogen-bonding interactions stabilize the packing. The intermolecular hydrogen bonds result in the formation of an infinite zigzag chain.

Cross-sections of Myristica malabarica (Lam) seed and mouse brain tissue were imprinted on such ordinary surfaces as printer paper and TLC plates, and successfully imaged by desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) at 250 ?m resolution. Chemical images representing the distribution of the alkaloid malabaricone C in the seed substructures and individual lipids in the substructures of the brain were obtained. Practical implications include analysis of irregular or soft materials, easy recording, transportation and storage of the latent image, and posterior analysis of the samples by different techniques without the requirement of addition of matrices or use of specific types of surfaces. � The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011.

1. Thirty strip transects of 2400 m 2 each, in the evergreen forest tract of the district of Uttara Kannada in South India, were clustered into two groups with high and low levels of disturbance on the basis of the density of perennial flowering plants and the fraction of deciduous species. 2. The set of 20 transects corresponding to low disturbance localities harboured 48 ± 6 (mean ± SD) species and 694 ± 135 individuals per transect, while the other 10 transects affected by high levels of disturbance supported 36 ± 12 species and 379 ± 135 individuals. 3. Eighty-four of the total of 200 species (operational taxonomic units) were exclusive to sites of low disturbance, and 28 to those of high disturbance ; 88 species were shared by sites of high and low disturbance. This number of shared species was significantly less than expected on the basis of chance alone. 4. The differences in species richness, as well as those in species turnover (0.73 ± 0.07 for high and 0.65 ± 0.01 for low disturbance sites) were significant at the 1 % level, but were as expected given the lower plant densities at sites of high disturbance. 5. Lack of coppicing ability in conjunction with their use in the plywood/matchwood industry has led to the disappearance of several evergreen species such as Syzigium gardneri and Myristica malabarica at sites with high levels of disturbance. 6. With villagers concentrating on harvests of trees in the height class of 4-8 m as poles, and commercial interests mostly extracting trees > 16 m in height, there was a reduction of around 45% across all height classes between sites of low and high levels of disturbance.

Four novel diarylnonanoids, malabaricones A–D, have been isolated from the fruit rind of Myristica malabarica Lam (Myristicaceae) and assigned the structures (1)–(4).