MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF SOME HERBAL FORMULATIONS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF TYPHOID FEVER AND CANDIDIASIS SOLD IN AFIKPO

Abstract

The present study was aimed at examining the microbiological quality of some herbal formulations used in the treatment of typhoid fever and candidiasis sold in Afikpo. Four samples were purchased from randomly selected sellers, conveyed to the laboratory for microbial analysis. A tenfold serial dilution was performed on each of the samples up to dilution factor of 10-3. An aliquot (0.1ml) of the serially diluted sample (10-3) was inoculated onto solidified media by spread plate method, incubated for 24 hours at 37oC for bacteria isolation and at room temperature for 5 days for fungal isolation. The aerobic count of bacteria isolates showed that Sample B (for typhoid) had the highest count of 7.5 x 103cfu/ml and the least of 5.0 x 103 from sample D. sample C had no growth. However, the highest coliform count was from sample with B w3.3 x 103 cfu/ml. A total of six (6) bacteria genera were recovered from the samples. Namely Escherichia coli, Pseudomanas sp, Shigella sp, S. aureus, Bacillus sp., Enterobacter aerogenes. Fungal isolates recovered included Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Penicillium sp. and Rhizopus sp. The percentage-occurrence of fungal isolates indicates that Aspergillus flavus had the highest occurrence of 40.0% while Penicillum sp. (13.3%) had the least occurrence. From the foregoing, we recommend that there is need for government to ensure regular check on the quality control and level of hygiene displayed by the herbal medicine producers to ensure minimal contamination of the products. Keywords Microbiological, Herbal formulations, Typhoid fever, candidiasis, coliform,