Myristicin is a nutmeg- and parsley-linked alkenylbenzene that appears in several AromaForge records, especially nutmeg, parsley seed, parsley herb, mace, and sugandha kokila materials. The live evidence base is materially stronger for identity, occurrence, metabolism, and safety discussion than for wellness-style use. Public sources repeatedly flag psychoactive overdose context, DNA-adduct and toxicity concerns, and major evidence gaps around chronic human risk, so archive copy should keep myristicin firmly in a chemistry and safety context rather than a benefit-led one.
Chemical identity and composition
PubChem identifies Myristicin as CID 4276 with molecular formula C11H12O3 and IUPAC name 4-methoxy-6-prop-2-enyl-1,3-benzodioxole. PubChem synonym data confirms CAS 607-91-0 and common naming variants such as myristicine and methoxysafrole. In the archive it already appears in nutmeg, parsley seed, parsley herb, mace, and sugandha kokila records, matching the classic spice-and-apiaceae occurrence pattern described in the literature.
Aroma and practical use
- Use the recorded spicy, warm, nutmeg-like, parsley-like descriptors to explore a blend's scent character; perceived strength also depends on the other ingredients.
- Read the route, preparation and experimental context before using a study finding to choose an oil.
Reported benefits and effects
Findings retain their study context. An animal or laboratory result describes that experiment.
A 1997 toxicology review concluded that myristicin acute toxicity appears low at ordinary intake levels, but also stated that complete risk assessment was not possible because genotoxicity, chronic toxicity, reproductive toxicity, and carcinogenicity data were lacking.
A 1997 toxicology review concluded that myristicin acute toxicity appears low at ordinary intake levels, but also stated that complete risk assessment was not possible because genotoxicity, chronic toxicity, reproductive toxicity, and carcinogenicity data were lacking.
The source assessment applies to its specified exposure and preparation; this entry is not an unrestricted-use clearance.
The 2019 NTP Bookshelf report states that myristicin is metabolized to electrophilic intermediates that form DNA adducts and notes predictive concern for weak carcinogenicity in long-term rodent liver models, while also emphasizing that direct two-year myristicin studies were not available.
The 2019 NTP Bookshelf report states that myristicin is metabolized to electrophilic intermediates that form DNA adducts and notes predictive concern for weak carcinogenicity in long-term rodent liver models, while also emphasizing that direct two-year myristicin studies were not available.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
A 2014 human leukemia-cell study reported that myristicin induced apoptosis through mitochondrial-pathway markers and down-regulated several DNA-damage-response genes in K562 cells.
A 2014 human leukemia-cell study reported that myristicin induced apoptosis through mitochondrial-pathway markers and down-regulated several DNA-damage-response genes in K562 cells.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
A 2023 nutmeg-poisoning case paper measured myristicin alongside safrole and elemicin in human serum after ingestion of 75 g nutmeg powder, reinforcing real-world overdose relevance and toxicokinetic interest for this constituent.
A 2023 nutmeg-poisoning case paper measured myristicin alongside safrole and elemicin in human serum after ingestion of 75 g nutmeg powder, reinforcing real-world overdose relevance and toxicokinetic interest for this constituent.
Apply this finding only to the studied preparation, participants, route and outcome. It does not establish the same result for a custom oil blend.
Use concerns and concentration limits
Sensitization concernNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
Phototoxicity concernNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
Oxidation concernNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
Penetration enhancementNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
A recorded constituent reference, not a recommended oil dilution. Product category, source applicability and all contributing oils must be checked before use.
unverified reference · No source provenance attachedThe most consistent safety signal around myristicin is overdose-associated nutmeg intoxication rather than ordinary aroma-level exposure, but the public risk literature still treats chronic toxicology as incompletely resolved.
The source assessment applies to its specified exposure and preparation; this entry is not an unrestricted-use clearance.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
The NTP overview explicitly discusses DNA-adduct formation and compares myristicin with other alkenylbenzenes of greater established concern, so archive copy should avoid casual safety language.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
The 2022 review on myristicin and elemicin states that reliable data on genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, and reproductive toxicity remain incomplete, which is an important evidence-gap signal rather than proof of safety.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
No constituent-specific IFRA dermal limit or modern human controlled tolerability study for isolated myristicin was verified in this pass.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
Constituents it may interact with
These are research candidates recorded in the interaction matrix. They do not add a proven-amplification bonus to the score.
elemicinAmplification candidate
Candidate in the research matrix. A coefficient alone does not establish amplification at the dose, route or goal of your blend; no proven amplification is inferred from this row.
in vitro · effect
No source citation attached.
Read elemicin report →How the effects were investigated
metabolic activation and DNA adduct formation
The NTP Bookshelf review describes myristicin metabolism to reactive intermediates that can form DNA adducts, placing genotoxicity and carcinogenicity assessment at the center of the safety discussion.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
mitochondrial apoptosis signaling in cells
Cell work in K562 leukemia cells reported mitochondrial membrane disruption, cytochrome c release, caspase-3 activation, PARP cleavage, and DNA fragmentation after myristicin exposure.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
What this report cannot establish
- A reported constituent percentage does not establish an effective human therapeutic dose or the amount absorbed into the body.
- The presence of a constituent does not guarantee a clinical benefit, rash treatment or sleep improvement from a custom blend.
- An unflagged concern or missing use limit does not establish safety for ingestion, inhalation, skin exposure or a particular person.
- A candidate constituent interaction does not establish that two oils amplify one another at the selected proportions.
- Constituent descriptors alone do not establish a precise top, heart or base lifetime in a finished blend.
Known data gaps (6)
- No controlled human efficacy study specific to isolated myristicin was located in the reviewed public sources.
- Modern human safety evidence for isolated myristicin remains sparse compared with the amount of discussion around nutmeg poisoning and structurally related alkenylbenzenes.
- Constituent-specific dermal sensitization and fragrance-use restriction data were not verified in this pass.
- The numeric dermal reference lacks source provenance; a verified flag alone is insufficient.
- Some findings do not record an explicit exposure route; consult the linked study before applying them to a use.
- Interaction candidates lack an attached source citation and remain unqualified.