[Chemical constituents of Myristica fragrans Houttuyn seed and their physiological activities].

The antioxidative activity of phenylpropanoid compound extracts from nutmeg (Myristica fragragrans Houttuyn) seed was determined. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging method, superoxide disumutase assay, ferric thiocyanate assay, and radical-scavenging effect assay with electron-spin resonance. High antioxidant activity was found in monoterpenoid extracts including terpinene-4-ol (3), alpha-terpineol (4), and 4-allyl-2,6-dimethoxyphenol (12). Compound, 12 expressed particularly high antioxidant activity.