Towards a better understanding of the psychopharmacology of nutmeg: Activities in the mouse tetrad assay.
BACKGROUND
Nutmeg, the seeds of Myritica fragrans (family Myristicaceae), is a well known kitchen spice with a long-standing reputation as a psychoactive herb. Nutmeg at high doses is considered a cheap substitute to several drugs of abuse. Earlier reports have attributed amphetamine-like activities to nutmeg.


OBJECTIVE
To characterize the neuropharmacological effects of different nutmeg extracts, administered orally and intraperitoneally, in comparison to Delta(9)-terahydrocannabinol, amphetamine, and morphine.


METHODS
Methanolic (ME), dichloromethane (DE), and hexane (HE) extracts were obtained from a chromatographically fingerprinted batch of nutmeg. Biological evaluation was conducted in sets of 6-8 mice in the tetrad assay at doses ranging from 100 to 500 and 500 to 1000 mg/kg for i.p. and oral administration, respectively.


RESULTS
While oral administration of all the nutmeg extracts at 500 mg/kg caused a significant increase in locomotor activity, the i.p. administration of DE showed significant reduction in rectal temperature along with a significant increase in tail flick latency at 300 mg/kg. A significant decrease in core body temperature was observed with HE at 100 mg/kg, while higher doses caused significant increases in hot plate latency.


CONCLUSIONS
Different behavioral effects were observed that varied by the type of extract as well as by the route of administration.
El-Alfy
Abir T
AT
Pharmacology Department, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, MS 38677, United States. aalfy2001@olemiss.edu
Wilson
Lisa
L
ElSohly
Mahmoud A
MA
Abourashed
Ehab A
EA
D000661:Amphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D026323:Myristica / Q000737:chemistry*; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011600:Psychopharmacology; D012007:Rectum / Q000187:drug effects; D012639:Seeds; D013696:Temperature
D010936:Plant Extracts; D009020:Morphine; D013759:Dronabinol; D000661:Amphetamine
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