Isolation And Identification of Microorganisms From Herbal Mixtures Sold at Enugu Metropolis

ABSTRACT

The safety, efficacy and quality of herbal mixtures have been an important concern for health authorities and health professional, especially now there is increase in the use of herbal mixtures. This study was aimed at isolation and identification of microorganisms from some liquid herbal mixtures sold in Enugu metropolis, South East of Nigeria. A total of twenty samples  of herbal mixture were selected at random, from herbal shops in Enugu metropolis and were analysed in Microbiology laboratory, Godfery Okoye University, samples were inoculated onto Nutrient agar, MaCkonkey agar and Blood agar plates, and incubated at 37oC for 24 hrs. Potatoe dextrose agar slants were also inoculated for the isolation of fungi. Viable bacterial counts of the samples were also performed using nutrient agar. The organisms isolated were identified using biochemical tests, and the following organisms were identified Streptococcus sp, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus sp, Proteus sp, Aspergillus sp, Rhizopus sp, Pseudomonas sp Bacillus sp Penicillum sp mucor sp. the herbal medicine were highly contaminated and most of the organisms, isolated were gotten through poor handling, poor manufacturing of this herbal mixtures and raw materials used in preparing this herbal mixtures.