Evaluation of microbiological criteria and quality of packaged herbal medicinal products

Abstract

The broad use of packaged herbal medicinal products has highlighted many issues associated with the quality, safety, and efficacy (QSE) of these products. Regardless of extensive applications of herbal medicines, this fact cannot be denied that the plant materials are exposed to various contaminants like toxic elements, pesticide residues, insects etc. But the main contaminants responsible for the deterioration of the herbal medicinal products (HMPs) are the microbes. They exert a bad impact on the overall quality and shelf life of the herbal products. The qualities of these products not only revealed changes in the physical appearance but could also pose a risk of acquisition of pathogenic microbial agents such as bacteria spores and mycotoxins to those taking these products. Exposure to these microbial agents can cause adverse health effect and toxicity. The integrity of composition depends upon the harvesting, handling, packaging, distribution, and storage conditions. In absence of good manufacturing practice, however, the nutritional richness of HMPs makes the product good medium for microbial growth, vehicle of microbial pathogens and associated complications. In Nigeria the issues of non-standardization, improper regulation and registration of these herbal products has raised a lot of questions about the inherent health risk associated with the consumption of these products, especially now there is increasing popularity of the use of herbal medicines. This paper addresses microorganisms and their agents as the major contaminants of herbal medicinal products. It reviews precise sources of microbial contamination and harmful effects of contaminated herbal medicinal products, when consumed by the consumers. It also reviews the methodological aspects regarding the influence of different commonly used pharmaceutical preparation techniques on the microbiological criteria of the products. And finally discussed the way forward to ascertain these quality, safety, and efficacy (QSE), of herbal medicinal products, quality standards which could be considered for guidelines and or possible inclusion in herbal pharmacopeia.