Identification and Quantification of Microbial Contaminations Present in Herbal Medicines Commonly Consumed by Women in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The present study aimed to investigate the microbial populations such a bacteria and fungi contamination present in the herbal medicinal preparations (Lepidium sativum, Nigella sativa, Cuminum cyminum, Foeniculum vulgare, Pimpinella anisum, Trigoneela foenum-graecum, Cinnamomum verum, peel coffee, Alchemilla valgaris, Vitex agnus-castus) commonly available in different parts of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. To determine the contamination of the herbal products, experiments such as total aerobic bacterial plate counts were evaluated by various plating techniques. The isolation and identification of fungi were done using czapek dox agar and potato dextrose agar. The results showed that a total of herbal remedies were contaminated with bacteria and fungi (100%). Among the contaminated products, peel of coffee and Vitex angnus-castus were noted more contamination than the other herbal medicinal plants. The results confirmed that the traditionally prepared herbal medications in Riyadh city are likely to be contaminated with a wide variety of potentially pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Therefore, before consumption, the quality assurance of these products should be thoroughly enforced and monitored in the production and distribution of herbal preparations. In conclusion, the present study gives proper evidence that the consumed herbal products contain different levels of pathogenic microbes.