Microbial Contamination of Some Antidiabetic Herbal Preparations Available in Bangladesh

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 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.