ABSTRACT

Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) seed is a popular spice and traditional medicinal agent, renowned for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. However, concerns have been raised regarding its potential toxicological effects when consumed in high doses, given the presence of bioactive compounds such as myristicin, safrole, and elemicin. This study aimed to investigate the impact of ethanol extract of nutmeg on body weight, relative organ weights, and histopathological alterations in female albino rats, thereby providing insight into its safety profile.

Female Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups. The control group received distilled water, while the three treatment groups were administered ethanol extract of Myristica fragrans at doses of 100, 500, and 1000 mg/kg body weight, respectively, for a period of 28 days. Body weights were recorded weekly to monitor changes over the experimental period. On day 29, vital organs—including the liver, kidneys, heart, and lungs—were carefully excised, weighed, and examined histologically using hematoxylin and eosin staining.

The study revealed that while the 500 mg/kg treatment groups exhibited a statistically significant increase in body weight compared to controls, relative organ weights remained largely unchanged. Histopathological assessments revealed normal tissue architecture in all examined organs, with no signs of cellular damage or toxicity.These findings suggest that the ethanol extract, even at higher doses, did not induce overt structural toxicity in the tested organs.

The ethanol extract of nutmeg shows a low toxicity profile at the tested doses, supporting its safe traditional use at lower levels. Further studies are warranted to investigate effects of chronic exposure.

Keywords: Myristica fragrans, nutmeg, ethanol extract, toxicity, organ weight, histopathology, albino rats