Home Ingredients Mace (Myristica fragrans aril)
Kidney/Urinary Tract

Mace (Myristica fragrans aril)

Myristica fragrans
Evidence Level
Limited
5 Clinical Trials
5 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

Mace is the dried red lacy covering (aril) that wraps the nutmeg seed on the Myristica fragrans tree, sold whole or ground as a spice. It comes from the same fruit as nutmeg and yields more volatile oil, which contains the same compounds of concern: myristicin, elemicin and safrole. In one Thai analysis, authentic mace oil held less myristicin than authentic nutmeg seed oil, though two commercial mace samples held more, elemicin and safrole varied widely, and 6 of 10 market mace samples were a related species rich in safrole. Human research is thin: one small single-blind trial in women with bladder leakage found better symptom scores with mace powder than with placebo, and a second trial used mace only as part of a three-ingredient herbal drink. The FDA lists mace as a spice generally recognized as safe in food, but a child who ate several pieces needed hospital care, so keep to culinary amounts.

Studied Dose 1.5 g mace powder (three 500 mg capsules) twice daily, 3 g a day, for 3 months in one trial. A herbal drink trial used 3 g mace with 21 g Cassia fistula pod for 3 days before each period. No dose has been set for mace taken alone.
Active Compound Volatile oil rich in sabinene and pinenes plus the phenylpropenes myristicin, elemicin and safrole; also phenolic compounds such as malabaricone C.

Benefits

Bladder control in women doing pelvic floor exercises

In a single-blind trial at an Indian Unani medicine institute, 60 women with combined stress and urge leakage took 1.5 g mace powder or a placebo twice daily for 3 months, both groups also doing pelvic floor exercises. Mace scored better on global improvement and on symptom and quality of life scores. It is a small single trial that has not been repeated.

Supported by Trial 1

Menstrual cramp comfort as part of a traditional herbal drink

In a single-blind trial of 64 women with painful periods, a Unani drink of Cassia fistula pod, 3 g mace and jaggery, taken for 3 days before each period, was compared with a standard pain reliever for two cycles. Pain fell in both groups, and quality of life and pain duration improved more with the drink. Mace was one of three ingredients, so its own effect is unknown.

Supported by Trial 2

Inflammation response in rodent tests

In rats and mice, a mace extract and its fractions given by mouth reduced induced paw swelling and blood vessel leakiness, and the active compound isolated from the extract was identified as myristicin. These are animal findings at high extract doses (up to 1.5 g/kg), and they have not been tested in people.

Supported by Trial 3

Antioxidant activity of mace extracts and oils in lab tests

In test-tube assays, a mace ethanol extract scavenged free radicals, and mace oil had a high phenolic content, with the fixed (fatty) oils showing more antioxidant activity than the essential oils. Antioxidant effects of eating mace have not been measured in people.

Supported by Trial 5, Trial 3

Traditional digestive spice with antibacterial activity in lab tests

Mace is used in Thai traditional remedies for stomach discomfort and nausea. In test tubes, a mace ethanol extract inhibited several strains of Helicobacter pylori, a stomach bacterium, and reduced an inflammatory signal from immune cells. No human study of mace for digestion was found.

Supported by Trial 3, Trial 4

Mechanism of action

1

Myristicin as an active anti-inflammatory fraction (animal data)

When a mace extract was split into fractions and given by mouth to rodents, several fractions reduced swelling and vessel leakiness, and the active compound isolated from them was identified as myristicin, the same compound linked to nutmeg intoxication at high intake.

2

Malabaricone C may limit safrole activation (lab and rat data)

Safrole needs a sulfotransferase enzyme to form a DNA-reactive product. Malabaricone C, a mace constituent, blocked that step in lab tests, and a mace extract given with safrole cut safrole DNA adducts in rat liver by about half. Effects in people were modeled, not measured.

3

Inhibition of drug-metabolizing enzymes in test tubes

In a screen of 55 spices, mace significantly inhibited the liver enzymes CYP3A4 or CYP2C9, and one compound isolated from mace was a potent CYP2C9 inhibitor. Whether culinary or supplement amounts do this in people is unknown.

Clinical trials

1
Mace Powder vs Placebo With Pelvic Floor Training in Women With Bladder Leakage: Single-Blind RCT
PubMed

Single-center, parallel, single-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial of oral mace powder for urinary incontinence with both stress and urge leakage, with pelvic floor muscle training in both arms, funded by the institute and India's Ministry of AYUSH. (Najeeya et al. 2018, Integr Med Res)

60 parous women aged 21 or older with stress plus urge urinary incontinence at a Unani medicine hospital in Bengaluru, India (30 per group); mace powder or cellulose placebo, 1.5 g (three 500 mg capsules) twice daily for 3 months.

At 3 months, 46.7% on mace versus 0% on placebo rated themselves much or very much better, and 90% versus 16.7% rated their symptoms normal or mild, the authors' definition of cure (P < 0.001 for both). Urinary distress, incontinence impact and quality of life scores also improved more with mace (P < 0.001). No side effects were reported. Only participants were blinded, outcomes were self-rated, and the result has not been repeated.

2
Herbal Drink With Mace vs Mefenamic Acid for Painful Periods: Single-Blind RCT (combination, no placebo)
PubMed

Single-blind, parallel, randomized trial with an active comparator in spasmodic dysmenorrhea (painful periods); the drink combined Cassia fistula pod, mace and jaggery, so it does not test mace alone. (Anjum et al. 2018, J Complement Integr Med)

64 women with painful periods in India: 31 took 180 mL of a decoction of Cassia fistula pod pericarp (21 g), mace (3 g) and jaggery (30 g) each morning for 3 days before menstruation; 33 took mefenamic acid 500 mg twice daily on days 1 to 3; two cycles.

Day 1 pain scores fell significantly in both groups by the second cycle. Quality of life scores and pain duration improved more in the decoction group. No side effects were reported. With three ingredients and no placebo, any contribution of mace cannot be separated out.

3
Mace Extract and Myristicin in Rodent Inflammation Tests (animal study)
PubMed

Animal study of a mace methanol extract and its fractions given by mouth, in carrageenan paw swelling in rats and acetic acid vascular permeability in mice; not a human trial. (Ozaki et al. 1989, Jpn J Pharmacol)

Laboratory rats and mice

The extract (1.5 g/kg) and several fractions, including one identified as myristicin (0.17 g/kg), produced a lasting reduction in swelling and vessel leakiness. The authors suggest that myristicin accounts for the effect. No human data.

4
Mace Extract and Safrole Activation in Lab and Rat Tests (lab and animal study)
PubMed

Laboratory enzyme work, computer modeling, and a rat study in which a malabaricone C-containing mace extract was given by mouth together with safrole; not a human trial. (Martati et al. 2014, Food Chem Toxicol)

Enzyme preparations, rat and human computer models, and Sprague-Dawley rats

Malabaricone C inhibited the sulfotransferase step that activates safrole. In rats, adding the mace extract to oral safrole cut liver safrole DNA adducts by 55% (P < 0.01). Human effects were predicted by modeling only.

5
Mace and Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 (test-tube study)
PubMed

In vitro screen of 55 spices against CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 activity, with isolation of compounds from mace; not a human trial. (Kimura et al. 2010, Biol Pharm Bull)

Enzyme assays only

Mace, nutmeg, cinnamon, black or white pepper and ginger significantly inhibited CYP3A4 or CYP2C9. A compound isolated from mace competitively inhibited CYP2C9 with an inhibitory constant of 0.037 micromolar. Not tested in people.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

A 6-year-old who unintentionally ate six pieces of mace developed reduced consciousness with serotonergic and anticholinergic signs and needed hospital care, and was discharged 36 hours after eating it. Store whole and ground mace out of children's reach.
Mace contains myristicin, elemicin and safrole, the compounds tied to nutmeg intoxication; the amount of mace that causes intoxication in adults has not been established, so keep to culinary amounts.
Safrole, present in mace oil, caused liver tumors in rodents at high doses, and US rules deem food with added safrole adulterated; the safrole content of mace varies widely between samples.
In Thai markets, 6 of 10 commercial mace samples were a related species (Myristica argentea) whose aril oil was 19 to 33% safrole, so buy from suppliers that verify the species.
In the one supplement-style trial, 3 g a day for 3 months produced no reported side effects in 30 women, but that is too small to rule out uncommon effects.
Safety of more than culinary amounts during pregnancy or breastfeeding has not been studied.

Important Drug interactions

In test tubes, mace inhibited the drug-metabolizing enzymes CYP3A4 or CYP2C9; whether this happens in people is unknown, so ask a pharmacist before taking mace in supplement amounts with medicines cleared by these enzymes.
Myristicin is described as a moderate monoamine oxidase inhibitor; avoid more than culinary amounts of mace with MAO inhibitor antidepressants.
The child poisoned by mace had serotonergic signs, so caution is reasonable with serotonergic antidepressants and other serotonergic drugs at more than culinary amounts.

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Frequently asked questions about Mace (Myristica fragrans aril)

How is mace different from nutmeg?

Both come from the same fruit of the Myristica fragrans tree. Nutmeg is the seed; mace is the red lacy aril wrapped around it. Mace yields more volatile oil, and in one analysis of authentic samples its oil had less myristicin than nutmeg seed oil, though some commercial mace oil had more, and elemicin and safrole varied widely from sample to sample.

Has mace been tested in clinical trials?

Only lightly. One single-blind trial of 60 women found better bladder symptom scores with 1.5 g mace powder twice daily than with placebo when both groups did pelvic floor exercises. Another trial tested a herbal drink in which mace was one of three ingredients. No human study of macelignan or other isolated mace compounds was found.

Can large amounts of mace be harmful?

Yes. Mace contains myristicin, elemicin and safrole, the same compounds tied to nutmeg intoxication, and a 6-year-old who ate six pieces of mace developed reduced consciousness and needed hospital care. The amount that causes problems in adults has not been established. Keep to culinary amounts and store mace away from children.

How is mace regulated in the US?

The FDA lists mace among spices and among essential oils and extracts generally recognized as safe for their intended use in food. That status covers food use, not concentrated supplements, and a flavor industry safety review of mace flavorings also excluded supplement use.

What is Mace?

Mace is the dried red lacy covering (aril) that wraps the nutmeg seed on the Myristica fragrans tree, sold whole or ground as a spice. It comes from the same fruit as nutmeg and yields more volatile oil, which contains the same compounds of concern: myristicin, elemicin and safrole.

What is Mace used for?

Mace is researched primarily for Kidney/Urinary Tract. In a single-blind trial at an Indian Unani medicine institute, 60 women with combined stress and urge leakage took 1.5 g mace powder or a placebo twice daily for 3 months, both groups also doing pelvic floor exercises.

What is the recommended dosage of Mace?

The clinically studied dose is 1.5 g mace powder (three 500 mg capsules) twice daily, 3 g a day, for 3 months in one trial. A herbal drink trial used 3 g mace with 21 g Cassia fistula pod for 3 days before each period. No dose has been set for mace taken alone. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Mace safe, and does it have side effects?

Side effects and cautions reported for Mace include: A 6-year-old who unintentionally ate six pieces of mace developed reduced consciousness with serotonergic and anticholinergic signs and needed hospital care, and was discharged 36 hours after eating it. Store whole and ground mace out of children's reach. It may also interact with some medications. Mace is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Mace interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: In test tubes, mace inhibited the drug-metabolizing enzymes CYP3A4 or CYP2C9; whether this happens in people is unknown, so ask a pharmacist before taking mace in supplement amounts with medicines cleared by these enzymes. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Mace?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Mace as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 5 study summaries and 15 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(15 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Najeeya AGF, Sultana A. Efficacy of mace (Arils of Myristica fragrans Houtt) plus PFMT on symptoms in mixed urinary incontinence: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Integr Med Res. 2018;7(4):307-315. doi: 10.1016/j.imr.2018.10.001.PubMedUsed to support: Single-center, single-blind randomized trial at a Unani medicine institute in India, funded by the institute and India's Ministry of AYUSH: 60 women with combined stress and urge urinary incontinence took 1.5 g mace powder (three 500 mg capsules) or cellulose placebo twice daily for 3 months, both groups with pelvic floor muscle training. On the primary outcomes, 46.7% on mace versus 0% on placebo rated themselves much or very much better, and 90% versus 16.7% rated their symptoms normal or mild (P < 0.001 for both); symptom and quality of life scores improved more with mace. No side effects were reported. The authors list single blinding and a single follow-up as limitations.
  2. Anjum A, Sultana A. A randomized comparative study of herbal decoction of Cassia fistula Linn pod's pericarp and Myristica fragrans Houtt arils vs. mefenamic acid in spasmodic dysmenorrhoea. J Complement Integr Med. 2018;16(2). doi: 10.1515/jcim-2018-0105.PubMedUsed to support: Single-blind randomized trial in 64 women with painful periods: a Unani decoction of Cassia fistula pod pericarp (21 g), mace (3 g) and jaggery (30 g), taken for 3 days before menstruation, compared with mefenamic acid 500 mg twice daily on days 1 to 3, for two cycles. Pain fell in both groups; quality of life scores and pain duration improved more with the decoction. No side effects were reported. A combination with an active comparator, so it does not isolate any effect of mace.
  3. Ozaki Y, Soedigdo S, Wattimena YR, Suganda AG. Antiinflammatory effect of mace, aril of Myristica fragrans Houtt., and its active principles. Jpn J Pharmacol. 1989;49(2):155-63. doi: 10.1254/jjp.49.155.PubMedUsed to support: Animal study: methanol extract of mace and its fractions given by mouth reduced carrageenan-induced paw swelling in rats and acetic acid-induced vascular permeability in mice. The active compound isolated from the fractions was identified as myristicin, which the authors propose explains the effect. Not a human study.
  4. Martati E, Boonpawa R, van den Berg JH, Paini A, Spenkelink A, Punt A, Vervoort J, van Bladeren PJ, Rietjens IM. Malabaricone C-containing mace extract inhibits safrole bioactivation and DNA adduct formation both in vitro and in vivo. Food Chem Toxicol. 2014;66:373-84. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2014.01.043.PubMedUsed to support: Laboratory, modeling and rat study: malabaricone C, a mace constituent, inhibited the sulfotransferase step that turns safrole into a DNA-reactive form. Given by mouth with safrole, a malabaricone C-containing mace extract cut safrole DNA adducts in rat liver by 55%. The abstract notes that safrole, present in mace, causes liver tumors in rodents at high doses. Human effects are modeled, not measured.
  5. Kimura Y, Ito H, Hatano T. Effects of mace and nutmeg on human cytochrome P450 3A4 and 2C9 activity. Biol Pharm Bull. 2010;33(12):1977-82. doi: 10.1248/bpb.33.1977.PubMedUsed to support: Test-tube study of 55 spices: mace, nutmeg, cinnamon, black or white pepper and ginger significantly inhibited the drug-metabolizing enzymes CYP3A4 or CYP2C9. A compound isolated from mace was a potent, competitive CYP2C9 inhibitor. No human data.
  6. Imtiaz A, Almutairy BM, Almutairi TM, Aloufi MM, Almutairi AH. Mace Poisoning: Accidental Toxic Ingestion in a Child Leading to a Reversible Coma. Cureus. 2024;16(12):e76284. doi: 10.7759/cureus.76284.PubMedUsed to support: Case report (reference only): a 6-year-old girl who unintentionally ate six pieces of mace developed altered consciousness, respiratory acidosis and serotonergic and anticholinergic signs, and recovered with supportive care, discharged 36 hours after ingestion. The authors note that mace contains myristicin, elemicin and safrole and describe myristicin as a moderate monoamine oxidase inhibitor.
  7. Khamnuan S, Intharuksa A, Phrutivorapongkul A, Theansungnoen T, Chaichit S, Thongkhao K, Samutrtai P, Sawangrat K. Comparative GC-MS fingerprint analysis of M. fragrans and M. argentea essential oils: Identifying potential markers for safety and quality control of nutmeg. Food Chem X. 2026;33:103395. doi: 10.1016/j.fochx.2025.103395.PubMedUsed to support: GC-MS analysis of 22 commercial nutmeg seed and aril samples from Thailand plus authentic reference samples (full text read). Authentic Myristica fragrans aril oil was mainly sabinene (about 32%), with myristicin at 2.3 to 5.2%, elemicin at 0.2 to 22.3% and safrole at 0.3 to 5.2% of the oil; authentic seed oil had myristicin at 5.2 to 8.8%, while two commercial Myristica fragrans aril oils had 15.2% and 21.3%. Six of the 10 commercial aril samples were the related species Myristica argentea, whose aril oil was 19 to 33% safrole.
  8. Sheikh SA, Manasa V, Daga P, Tumaney AW. Does fixed oil impart more antioxidant potential to spices than essential oils? A comparative study with seed (nutmeg) and aril (mace) oil from the spice myristica fragrans. J Food Sci Technol. 2025;62(11):2173-2182. doi: 10.1007/s13197-024-06164-0.PubMedUsed to support: Laboratory comparison of oils from nutmeg seed and mace: essential oil content was 8.79% in mace versus 5.95% in nutmeg; the mace total oil had the highest total phenolic content, and fixed oils showed more antioxidant activity than essential oils in test-tube assays.
  9. Ashokkumar K, Vellaikumar S, Muthusamy M, Dhanya MK, Aiswarya S. Compositional variation in the leaf, mace, kernel, and seed essential oil of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) from the Western Ghats, India. Nat Prod Res. 2022;36(1):432-435. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2020.1771713.PubMedUsed to support: GC-MS analysis of essential oils from leaf, mace, kernel and seed of nutmeg trees in the Western Ghats, India: mace gave the highest oil yield (8.10%), and its oil was dominated by sabinene (38.4%), alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, limonene and 3-carene.
  10. Suthisamphat N, Dechayont B, Phuaklee P, Prajuabjinda O, Vilaichone RK, Itharat A, Mokmued K, Prommee N. Anti-Helicobacter pylori, Anti-Inflammatory, Cytotoxic, and Antioxidant Activities of Mace Extracts from Myristica fragrans. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020;2020:7576818. doi: 10.1155/2020/7576818.PubMedUsed to support: Laboratory study: an ethanol extract of mace inhibited a reference strain and six clinical strains of Helicobacter pylori in test tubes (MIC 125 to 250 micrograms per mL), reduced nitric oxide release from immune cells and showed radical-scavenging activity. Notes that mace (Dok-Chan) is used in Thai traditional remedies for stomach discomfort and nausea. In vitro only.
  11. Yoshinuma N, Nozawa T, Okutsu S, Arai S, Satoh S, Fujikawa K, Ito K, Murai S. [Clinical effects of chewing gum containing egg-white lysozyme and mace extract]. Nihon Shishubyo Gakkai Kaishi. 1989;31(3):941-7. doi: 10.2329/perio.31.941.PubMedUsed to support: Reference only (chewing gum, local use in the mouth; Japanese article, English abstract read): 68 people with gum inflammation were randomized to a gum with mace extract, a gum with egg-white lysozyme, or a plain gum used after meals. Gum inflammation scores improved with both test gums and not with the plain gum; plaque fell only with the mace-extract gum. The abstract does not report between-group statistics.
  12. Davidsen JM, Cohen SM, Eisenbrand G, Fukushima S, Gooderham NJ, Guengerich FP, Hecht SS, Rietjens IMCM, Rosol TJ, Harman CL, Taylor SV. FEMA GRAS assessment of derivatives of basil, nutmeg, parsley, tarragon and related allylalkoxybenzene-containing natural flavor complexes. Food Chem Toxicol. 2023;175:113646. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2023.113646.PubMedUsed to support: Industry expert panel (FEMA) safety review of flavor ingredients containing allylalkoxybenzenes such as safrole, myristicin and elemicin. Natural flavor complexes from mace and nutmeg were affirmed as generally recognized as safe as flavor ingredients under their intended conditions of use; the authors state the evaluation does not cover use in dietary supplements. Authors are FEMA panel members or work for its support contractor.
  13. Motilal S, Maharaj RG. Nutmeg extracts for painful diabetic neuropathy: a randomized, double-blind, controlled study. J Altern Complement Med. 2013;19(4):347-52. doi: 10.1089/acm.2012.0016.PubMedUsed to support: Topical, not oral (reference only): 4-week randomized double-blind trial in 74 adults with painful diabetic neuropathy. A rub containing mace oil (2%) and nutmeg oil (14%) with menthol and methyl salicylate was no better than the same rub without the nutmeg and mace oils on any outcome.
  14. US Food and Drug Administration. 21 CFR 182.10 Spices and other natural seasonings and flavorings; 21 CFR 182.20 Essential oils, oleoresins (solvent-free), and natural extractives (including distillates). Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). 2026;Title 21, Part 182, sections 182.10 and 182.20; accessed October 2026..SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed. US regulation read on eCFR: mace (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) is listed both among spices and natural seasonings (182.10) and among essential oils, oleoresins and natural extractives (182.20) generally recognized as safe for their intended use in food. Nutmeg is listed separately in both sections.
  15. US Food and Drug Administration. 21 CFR 189.180 Safrole. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). 2026;Title 21, Part 189, section 189.180; accessed October 2026..SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed. US regulation read on eCFR: food containing added safrole, oil of sassafras, isosafrole or dihydrosafrole, or food intended mainly as a vehicle for them (such as sassafras tea), is deemed adulterated.