Microbial contamination of herbs marketed to HIV-infected people in Nairobi (Kenya)
Herbal products are used by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals regardless of safety or efficacy concerns. In this study, we examined the microbiological quality of herbal preparations marketed to HIV-infected individuals. A convenience sample (N = 24) of herbal products was obta...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Academy of Science of South Africa
2012-09-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://archive.sajs.co.za/index.php/SAJS/article/view/563 |
| _version_ | 1819199436723585024 |
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| author | Lydia Kaume Jerald C. Foote Edward E. Gbur |
| author_facet | Lydia Kaume Jerald C. Foote Edward E. Gbur |
| author_sort | Lydia Kaume |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Herbal products are used by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals regardless of safety or efficacy concerns. In this study, we examined the microbiological quality of herbal preparations marketed to HIV-infected individuals. A convenience sample (N = 24) of herbal products was obtained from retailers in Nairobi, Kenya in 2007. Petrifilm plate count methods were used to estimate total aerobic bacteria (APC), coliform, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and yeast and mould counts. APC counts ranged from an estimated 1.5 × 101 colony forming units (CFU)/g to 7.1 × 108 CFU/g. Total and faecal coliform counts ranged from an estimated <10 CFU/g to 3 × 106 CFU/g. E. coli load ranged from <10 CFU/g to 5 × 101 CFU/g and S. aureus counts ranged from an estimated <10 CFU/g to 2.5 × 103 CFU/g. Yeast and mould counts ranged from an estimated <10 CFU/g to 9 × 104 CFU/g. An evaluation using the World Health Organization limits for medicinal herbs found a percentage of samples to contain microorganisms above allowable limits: 33% (APC), 50% (coliforms) and 33% (yeast and moulds). A total of 67% of samples contained S. aureus loads above the United States Pharmacopeia standard. We suggest that the introduction of quality-control measures and safe handling practices for the selling of medicinal herbs and botanicals in Kenya would be beneficial in reducing the potential health risks for immunocompromised consumers of these products. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T03:16:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-93e29ac0e1bb4f3aaff3ca4ed0077800 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0038-2353 1996-7489 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T03:16:19Z |
| publishDate | 2012-09-01 |
| publisher | Academy of Science of South Africa |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-93e29ac0e1bb4f3aaff3ca4ed00778002022-12-21T18:02:06ZengAcademy of Science of South AfricaSouth African Journal of Science0038-23531996-74892012-09-011089/1010.4102/sajs.v108i9/10.563563Microbial contamination of herbs marketed to HIV-infected people in Nairobi (Kenya)Lydia Kaume0Jerald C. Foote1Edward E. Gbur2School of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, ARSchool of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, ARAgricultural Statistics Laboratory, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, ARHerbal products are used by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals regardless of safety or efficacy concerns. In this study, we examined the microbiological quality of herbal preparations marketed to HIV-infected individuals. A convenience sample (N = 24) of herbal products was obtained from retailers in Nairobi, Kenya in 2007. Petrifilm plate count methods were used to estimate total aerobic bacteria (APC), coliform, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and yeast and mould counts. APC counts ranged from an estimated 1.5 × 101 colony forming units (CFU)/g to 7.1 × 108 CFU/g. Total and faecal coliform counts ranged from an estimated <10 CFU/g to 3 × 106 CFU/g. E. coli load ranged from <10 CFU/g to 5 × 101 CFU/g and S. aureus counts ranged from an estimated <10 CFU/g to 2.5 × 103 CFU/g. Yeast and mould counts ranged from an estimated <10 CFU/g to 9 × 104 CFU/g. An evaluation using the World Health Organization limits for medicinal herbs found a percentage of samples to contain microorganisms above allowable limits: 33% (APC), 50% (coliforms) and 33% (yeast and moulds). A total of 67% of samples contained S. aureus loads above the United States Pharmacopeia standard. We suggest that the introduction of quality-control measures and safe handling practices for the selling of medicinal herbs and botanicals in Kenya would be beneficial in reducing the potential health risks for immunocompromised consumers of these products.http://archive.sajs.co.za/index.php/SAJS/article/view/563microbial contaminationherb safetymedicinal herbsbotanicalsherbal use |
| spellingShingle | Lydia Kaume Jerald C. Foote Edward E. Gbur Microbial contamination of herbs marketed to HIV-infected people in Nairobi (Kenya) South African Journal of Science microbial contamination herb safety medicinal herbs botanicals herbal use |
| title | Microbial contamination of herbs marketed to HIV-infected people in Nairobi (Kenya) |
| title_full | Microbial contamination of herbs marketed to HIV-infected people in Nairobi (Kenya) |
| title_fullStr | Microbial contamination of herbs marketed to HIV-infected people in Nairobi (Kenya) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microbial contamination of herbs marketed to HIV-infected people in Nairobi (Kenya) |
| title_short | Microbial contamination of herbs marketed to HIV-infected people in Nairobi (Kenya) |
| title_sort | microbial contamination of herbs marketed to hiv infected people in nairobi kenya |
| topic | microbial contamination herb safety medicinal herbs botanicals herbal use |
| url | http://archive.sajs.co.za/index.php/SAJS/article/view/563 |
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