Essential Oil Extracted from Nutmeg to be Used as Substitute for Food Preservatives

Abstract

Nutmeg belonging to the family of Myristicaceae, is a spice seed from the fruit of a tropical evergreen tree called M.Fragrans Houtt. Owing to the special antimicrobial properties of the essential oil extracted from nutmeg, it is known o be an excellent substitute for sodium benzoate, which is one of the common food preservative used in the market. Sodium benzoate when consumed in excess is found to be carcinogenic to human body comparing to nutmeg oil which is anti carcinogenic. Essential oils and various oleoresins extracted from nutmeg oil is proven to be anti microbial. One of the modern ways to improve the hygienic safety of manufactured food products is to exploit this anti microbial property of nutmeg oil extract. The use of nutmeg oil extract can thus reduce the health issues and turn out to be environmental friendly. This article focuses on the extraction of essential oil from nutmeg as a substitute for food preservatives and its characteristic techniques. Various methodologies like FTIR and HPLC have been carried out.