Microbial Contamination of Some Antidiabetic Herbal Preparations Available in Bangladesh

Md. Ranzu Ahmed; S. M. Z. H. Asna; Begum Rokeya; M. Abu Sayeed; M. Mosihuzzaman

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.
Begum Rokeya Department of Pharmacology, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS), Dhaka, Bangladesh.
M. Abu Sayeed Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
M. Mosihuzzaman International Centre for Natural Product Research (ICNPR), BUHS, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Keywords: Herbal formulations, antidiabetic herbal preparations, microbial contamination, antibacterial assessment

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 Saborauds 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 anti diabetic 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.