Abstract

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This study was carried out to assess the microbial quality of herbal medicinal products being sold in Ota and its environs. A total of 24 bacterial isolates were identified from 32 herbal products purchased from 8 sellers in different parts of Ota. The total plate count (TPC) for bacteria in the herbal samples analysed ranged from 1.1 x 10 to 9.3 x 1OCFU/ml; while the total fungal count ranged from 1.2 x 10 to 9.8 x lOCFU/ml. The bacterial and fungal counts of the herbal products increased with the period of storage (24, 48, 96 hours). Bacteria! isolates obtained from this study belong to four genera; Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus. Sixty percent of the herbal products analysed were contaminated with Escherichia coli, 50% by Vibrio cholerae, 30% of Staphylococcus aureus, and 40% with Salmonella typhi. The antibiotic resistance and susceptibility patterns of the isolates showed 45% and 36% of Escherichia coli were resistant to ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin respectively; all the Staphylococcus aureus were susceptible to ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin; 80% of the Vibrio cholerae were resistant to ofloxacin; and 50% of the Salmonella typhi isolates were resistant to ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin. All the bacterial isolates recovered from herbal products in this study were resistant to cefuroxime, ampicillin, and ceftazidime. The result of this study revealed the need for adequate quality control measure to be put in place for herbal preparations used for commercial purpose in order to safeguard the health of the public.

Keywords: Microbial, herbal products, isolates, storage, Ota.