Evaluation of the Microbial Load and Heavy Metal Content of Two Polyherbal Antimalarial Products on the Ghanaian Market

Joint Authors

Komlaga, Gustav
Amponsah, Isaac Kingsley
Turkson, Bernard K.
Mensah, Merlin L. K.
Sam, George H.
Mensah, Abraham Y.
Ekuadzi, Edmund
Achaab, Emmanuel

Source

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Issue

Vol. 2020, Issue 2020 (31 Dec. 2020), pp.1-5, 5 p.

Publisher

Hindawi Publishing Corporation

Publication Date

2020-05-16

Country of Publication

Egypt

No. of Pages

5

Main Subjects

Medicine

Abstract EN

The use of herbal products has increased and become more popularized globally; however, limited studies coupled with questions related to the quality and safety of these herbal products have been raised.

Herbal products with hope of their nontoxicity may play a role of alternative to overcome the problems of multi-drug resistant pathogens.

Medicinal plants used as raw materials for production may have quality and safety issues due to proximity to wastewater application of fungicides and pesticides, which may be directly deposited superficially or absorbed by the plant system.

Therefore, possible contamination of some Ghanaian herbal products cannot be ignored, as it may severely affect human life in the process of treatment.

Aim.

To evaluate the microbial load and the presence of toxic heavy metals in Mist Amen Fevermix and Edhec Malacure, two polyherbal products used in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Ghana.

Methods.

Thermo Elemental M5 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) fitted with graphite furnace and an auto sampler was used to determine the heavy metal contents of the herbal products.

The herbal samples were evaluated for the microbial load by using the appropriate culture media.

Results and Analysis.

Mist Amen Fevermix and Edhec Malacure complied with the safety limits evaluated for all different microbial counts and contamination.

The following heavy metals were present in Mist Amen Fevermix and Edhec Malacure Mixture: Fe, Ni, K, Zn, Hg, Cu, Mn, Cr, Cd, Pb, Fe, Cu, K, and Na.

Ni was below detectable limit in Edhec Malacure.

Conclusion.

Mist Amen Fevermix and Edhec Malacure may be assured of safety.

The products contained heavy metals, but all were within acceptable limit established by the FAO/WHO.

The levels of microbial contamination were below the maximum acceptable limit.

American Psychological Association (APA)

Turkson, Bernard K.& Mensah, Merlin L. K.& Sam, George H.& Mensah, Abraham Y.& Amponsah, Isaac Kingsley& Ekuadzi, Edmund…[et al.]. 2020. Evaluation of the Microbial Load and Heavy Metal Content of Two Polyherbal Antimalarial Products on the Ghanaian Market. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine،Vol. 2020, no. 2020, pp.1-5.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1154706

Modern Language Association (MLA)

Turkson, Bernard K.…[et al.]. Evaluation of the Microbial Load and Heavy Metal Content of Two Polyherbal Antimalarial Products on the Ghanaian Market. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine No. 2020 (2020), pp.1-5.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1154706

American Medical Association (AMA)

Turkson, Bernard K.& Mensah, Merlin L. K.& Sam, George H.& Mensah, Abraham Y.& Amponsah, Isaac Kingsley& Ekuadzi, Edmund…[et al.]. Evaluation of the Microbial Load and Heavy Metal Content of Two Polyherbal Antimalarial Products on the Ghanaian Market. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2020. Vol. 2020, no. 2020, pp.1-5.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1154706

Data Type

Journal Articles

Language

English

Notes

Includes bibliographical references

Record ID

BIM-1154706