The Influence of magnesium aluminometasilicate on essential oil yield from Myristica fragrans seeds

Abstract

Introduction: Magnesium aluminometasilicate is a white amorphous powder with high surface area, practically insoluble in water. The magnesium aluminometasilicate has the ability to absorb materials, which is characterized by liquid absorption capacity [1,2]. It is the first time that magnesium aluminometasilicate was used as an excipient for essential oil, previously it was used as an excipient only in solid dosage forms. The aim of this work was to compare the yield of essential oil with magnesium aluminometasilicate and without it. Materials and methods: The dried seeds of Myristica fragrans (nutmeg) were from Grenada (brown-beige color, had a characteristic odor, and strong, bitter, and spicy flavor). Seeds were ground into a powder (particles smaller than 0.5 mm) with a laboratory mill. Magnesium aluminometasilicate (Neusilin® US2, Fuji Chemical Industries Co., Ltd., Toyoma, Japan) was used as an excipient. Distilled water was used throughout the experiment. Essential oils were prepared by hydrodistillation (Clevenger type apparatus). The yield of essential oil is presented as mean ± SEM. Results: Four samples of essential oil were produced using hydrodistillation (magnesium aluminometasilicate concentration was: 0%, 0.5%, 1% and 2%). The control sample of essential oil (without excipient) yield was 0.79 ± 0.04 g (15 grams of nutmeg powder and 300 ml water were used for all samples). When magnesium aluminometasilicate was used (from 0.5% to 2%) the essential oil was obtained in higher quantities – from 1.19 ± 0.09 g to 1.57 ± 0.09 g (p < 0.05). The highest yield of essential oil (10.43%) was obtained by using 2% magnesium aluminometasilicate. Conclusion: The yield of the essential oil from nutmeg seeds was significantly higher when magnesium aluminometasilicate was used. It increased from 5.25 ± 0.04% to 10.43 ± 0.09%. [...].