Assignment of Technology Name : Salsabil Jannah

of Essential Oil, Spices, and ID : F34150107

Phytopharmaca Class : K3
Lecturer : Dr.Ir. Muslich, MSi

NUTMEG ESSENTIAL OIL

Product Description
Nutmeg is Indonesia’s native spice, spread mainly in Maluku, Irian Jaya,
Sulawesi, Java, and Sumatera. The two major products are mace and seed
(Mimbar et al. 2016). The nutmeg seed is one of four components of the fruit
obtained from the nutmeg tree, Myristica fragans Houtt (Myristicaceae). About
30-55% of the seed consists of oils and 45-60% consists of solid matter including
cellulose materials. There are two types of oils: (1) The "essential oil of nutmeg"
also called the "volatile oil" accounts for 5-15% of the nutmeg seed and (2) the
"fixed oil of nutmeg" sometimes called "nutmeg butter" or expressed oil of
nutmeg accounts for 24-40% of the nutmeg seed." The relative percentages of the
different components will vary depending on the geographical origin of the
nutmeg (FAO 1994).
Nutmeg essential oil is a warming and spicy oil extracted from the fruit and
seeds by steam distillation. It is a colourless or pale yellow liquid with a taste and
odour of nutmeg. This oil is soluble in alcohol and insoluble in water and has a
density, at 25°C of 0.859-0.924. Since it is light and air sensitive, it must be kept
cool in a tightly closed container and protected from light (FAO 1994).
Because of its aroma, the essential oil has been used as a natural flavouring
extract and as a perfume in the cosmetic industries. In particular, the oil has been
used as a flavouring agent, replacing ground nutmeg in order to avoid leaving
particles in foods and beverages. For example, it has been used to flavour baked
goods, beverages, candies, meats and syrups. The essential oil has found
widespread use in the cosmetic industry when a spicy odour is required. For
example, it has been employed as a flavour in dental creams in combination with
peppermint, methyl salicylate and cloves. In addition to its use in cosmetic
industries, nutmeg oil is prominently used in the pharmaceutical industry. Nutmeg
has been used as a form of medicine to treat many illnesses ranging from those
affecting the nervous system to the digestive system (FAO 1994).

Process Technology
Steam distillation is the most common extracting method, the essence is
extracted from the plant using an technique called distillation. Fresh, or
sometimes dried nutmeg seed or mace is placed in the plant chamber of the still
and the steam is allows to pass through the herb material under pressure which
softens the cells and allows the essential oil to escape in vapor form. The
temperature of the steam must be high enough to vaporize the oil present, yet not
so high that it destroys the plants or burns the essential oils. As they are released,
the tiny droplets of essential oil evaporate and, together with the steam molecules,
travel through a tube into the still's 18 condensation chamber. As the steam cools,
it condenses into water. The essential oil forms a film on the surface of the water.
To separate the essential oil from the water, the film is then decanted or skimmed
off the top (Vao and Pandey 2007). Since nutmeg essential oil is volatile or air
sensitive, thus it need to be packaged in tightly closed container and it must be
protected from light. The suitable package material with such requirement is
opaque glass bottle. It must be stored in cool temperature and has low sun
intensity.

Quality Standard

No Test Type Unit Requirement

1 Condition -
1.1 Color Not pale yellow
1.2 Smell Typical of nutmeg oil
2 Density 20oC/20oC - 0,880 – 0,910
3 Refractive Index - 1,470 – 1,497
4 Solubility in ethanol 90% at - 1:3 clear, clear henceforth
20oC
5 Optical rotation - (+)8o – (+)25o
6 Evaporation residue % Max 2,0
7 Myristicin % Min 10
(SNI 06-2388-2006)

Future Trends of Nutmeg Essential Oil Product

Nutmeg oil is a commodity in agribusiness sector that has the market good
because the demand is quite high on international markets. Indonesia became a
country exporter of seeds, mace, and nutmeg oilthe world's largest. About 60%
overall world nutmeg production is produced in Indonesia, 20% by Grenada
(Central America) and the rest by Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago. Export value
of nutmeg oil by Indonesia more than 250 tons per year with export volume of
more than 200 tons per year. Height the demand for nutmeg oil is due its use is
very wide, like material raw in the perfume industry, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals,
food and beverages, flavoring natural, also for treatment. Nutmeg oil most
prominent in Indonesia compared other essential oils and have been exported to
more than 30 countries, so this product become one source of foreign exchange
for Indonesia.

REFERENCES
Anonim. 2006. SNI 06-2388-2006, Minyak Pala. Badan Standarisasi Nasional,
BSN.
Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. 1994. Nutmeg and
derivatives. Rome(IT): Food and Agricultural Organization of the United
Nations.
Mimbar A S, Andarwulan N, Didah N F. 2016. Physical characterization and
essential oil properties of West Sumatra mace and nutmeg seed (Myristica
fragrans Houtt) at different ages at harvest. Journal of Pharmacognosy and
Phytochemistry. 5(6): 371-376.
Rao VP, Pandey D. 2007. Extraction of essential oil and its applications [Thesis].
Orissa(IN): National Institute Of Technology Rourkela.
Sipahelut SG, Telussa I. 2011. Karakteristik minyak atsiri dari daging buah pala
melalui beberapa teknologi proses. Jurnal Teknologi Hasil
Pertanian, 4(2):126-134