Microbial Contamination of Some Antidiabetic Herbal Preparations Available in Bangladesh
Md. Ranzu Ahmed *
Department of Chemistry, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS), Dhaka, Bangladesh and Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
S. M. Z. H. Asna
Department of Microbiology, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS), Dhaka, Bangladesh
M. S. H. Khan
Department of Chemistry, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS), Dhaka, Bangladesh
Begum Rokeya
Department of Pharmacology, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS), Dhaka, Bangladesh
M. Mosihuzzaman
Department of Chemistry, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
M. Abu Sayeed
Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Herbal Medicines (HM) are being used in our country for a long time but the type and load of the microbial agents has not been isolated in locally produced finished products of HM. The present study was designed to assess the microbial load, genus & species of the microbes contaminating with HM. Seven different Antidiabetic Herbal Preparations (ADHPs) were purchased randomly and analyzed for microbial contaminants. Blood agar, Mac Conkey agar, Chocolate agar and Saboraud’s dextrose agar were used (Oxoid) for culturing and isolation of bacteria and fungus. Identification of organisms were done as standard ways. Total aerobic bacterial plate count was done as per the method of Brown, Poxton and Wilkinson. Out of 07 antidiabetic solid and liquid samples, except ADHP-3, Bacillus subtilis (3.5 – 4.0 x 104 cfu/g) was isolated from solid ADHPs and Enterococcus spp. (1.0x104 cfu/ml) was isolated from liquid ADHP, but all samples were free from fungi (yeasts and moulds). However presence of bacteria in these samples indicates the possibility of increased number of bacteria. So, the sample should be handled in any step maintaining standard sterility of the environment, instrument and involved personnel. The result of present study showed the contamination rate within tolerable level but the presence of bacteria in these samples was not desirable.
Keywords: Herbal formulations, antidiabetic herbal preparations, microbial contamination, antibacterial assessment