Study on the Individual Differences among the Seed Kernels of Nutmeg

OBJECTIVE To study the differences of chemical components among different seed kernels of nutmeg in the same batch. METHODS HPLC fingerprint method was used with Diamonsil C₁₈ column(4.6 mm×150 mm, 5 μm). The mobile phase consisted of methanol-water, a gradient eluting agent, at the flow rate of 1.0 mL·min^-1. The column temperature was 30 ℃, and the detective wavelength was 274 nm. RESULTS The fingerprints of ten seed kernels of nutmeg in the same batch were established which consisted of l5 common peaks. The similarity of 3 seed kemels of nutmegs was more than 95%, of 4 seed kemels of nutmegs between 90% and 95%, and three less than 90%. CONCLUSION There are some differences among different seed kernels of nutmeg in the same batch. This method could provide a scientific basis for the quanlity controlling of nutmeg.