Variation in the Chemical Profiles of Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) Essential Oils from Banda, Titawaai, and Seith

Daniella Engel; Imanuel Kapelle; Dwi Anggara Putri Usman; Syefira Salsabila; Nini Renur

doi:10.24036/eksakta/vol27-iss05/732

EKSAKTA: Berkala Ilmiah Bidang MIPA

Open Access

**Variation in the Chemical Profiles of Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) Essential Oils from Banda, Titawaai, and Seith**

Daniella Engel ¹

, Imanuel Kapelle ²

, Dwi Anggara Putri Usman ¹

, Syefira Salsabila ¹

, Nini Renur ³

¹ Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Pattimura, Ambon, Indonesia

² Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Pattimura, Ambon, Indonesia

³ Department of Fishery Product Technology, Politeknik Perikanan Negeri Tual, Southeast Maluku, Indonesia

Published 2026-10-12

Vol. 27 No. 05 (2026) PAGES 838-849

DOI 10.24036/eksakta/vol27-iss05/732

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Abstract

Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) is one of the most important spice commodities in the Maluku Islands and a valuable source of essential oil containing economically important bioactive constituents. This study aimed to compare the chemical profiles of nutmeg seed essential oils obtained from Banda, Titawaai, and Seith in Central Maluku Regency, Indonesia. Fresh nutmeg seeds were sun-dried for 24 h before essential oils were extracted by steam distillation. The extracted oils were dehydrated using anhydrous sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄) and subsequently characterized by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The essential oil yield ranged from 0.24% to 0.66%, with the highest yield obtained from Titawaai (0.66%), followed by Banda (0.32%) and Seith (0.24%). GC-MS analysis identified sabinene as the predominant constituent in all samples, with relative contents of 24.69%, 29.34% and 33.69% in Banda, Titawaai, and Seith, respectively. Other major constituents included α-pinene and β-pinene, while myristicin exhibited relative contents of 10.29% in Banda, 6.43% in Titawaai, and 5.41% in Seith. Variations in the chemical profiles among sampling locations indicate that geographical and environmental factors influence the characteristics of nutmeg essential oil. These findings provide baseline information supporting quality standardization and industrial utilization of nutmeg essential oil.

Author Biographies

D

Daniella Engel

Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Pattimura, Ambon, Indonesia

dengel.engel@lecturer.unpatti.ac.id

I am a lecturer in the Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Technology, Pattimura University, with expertise in the field of pharmaceutical sciences.

I

Imanuel Kapelle

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Pattimura, Ambon, Indonesia

berly_mollucas@yahoo.com

A Professor in the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Pattimura University, with expertise in natural products chemistry.

S

Syefira Salsabila

Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Pattimura, Ambon, Indonesia

syefira.salsabila@lecturer.unpatti.ac.id

A Lecturer in the Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Technology, Pattimura University

N

Nini Renur

Department of Fishery Product Technology, Politeknik Perikanan Negeri Tual, Southeast Maluku, Indonesia

nini.renur47@gmail.com

A Ph.D. holder in the Bachelor of Applied Science Program in Fisheries Product Processing Engineering Management at Tual State Polytechnic of Fisheries.

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