Abstract

Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) is widely used for aromatic and medicinal properties, yet adulteration with related species, namely M. argentea compromises quality and raises health concerns. This study analyzed the chemical composition of essential oils from 22 commercial nutmeg samples (arils, seeds, and powders) using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). Multivariate analyses, including heatmaps, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) with Variable Importance in Projection (VIP) scores, revealed clear chemical distinctions between the two species. Key markers for species differentiation included sabinene, α-pinene, β-pinene, safrole, and myristicin, with M. fragrans characterized by sabinene (31.64 ± 7.97 %), α-pinene (10.57 ± 5.29 %), β-pinene (9.76 ± 1.76 %), and terpinen-4-ol (4.98 ± 1.30 %). Safrole, abundant in M. argentea, is recognized as potentially carcinogenic, underscoring food safety concerns. Overall, GC–MS profiling proved to be a robust tool for authenticating nutmeg species, detecting adulteration, and supporting consumer protection in the spice industry.