Page 53 - ITPS-6-2

INNOSC Theranostics

and Pharmacological Sciences

ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Evaluation of the microbial quality of

commercial liquid herbal preparations on the
Ghanaian market

Christina Osei-Asare , Frederick William Akuffo Owusu *,
1
2
4
3
5
John Antwi Apenteng , Philomena Entsie , Ofosua Adi-Dako ,
Doris Kumadoh , Amanda Voado , Esther Aloni , and Yaa Asantewaa Osei 1
6
1
1
1 Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Central University, Miotso, Ghana
2 Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame
Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
3 Department of Microbiology, School of Pharmacy, Central University, Miotso, Ghana
4 Department of Herbal Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame
Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
5 Department of Pharmaceutics and Microbiology, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana
6 Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Akuapem-Mampong, Ghana

Abstract
Conventionally, the microorganisms in liquid herbal mixtures are curtailed due to
the fresh preparation before the administration to patients. Prolonged storage of
liquid herbal preparations (due to commercialization) coupled with primeval routine
production processes may increase the potential of microbial contamination in liquid
*Corresponding author:
Frederick William Akuffo Owusu herbal preparations. This study aims to analyze the microbial quality of 15 selected
(frederickakuffo.owusu@knust.edu.gh) commercial liquid herbal preparations on the Ghanaian market. The samples were
Citation: Osei-Asare C, Owusu FWA, obtained from accredited pharmacies and herbal outlets in the Greater Accra region
Apenteng JA, et al., 2023, Evaluation of Ghana, specifically Central Accra, between November 2019 and January 2020.
of the microbial quality of commercial The selected samples were coded HM1 to HM15. The effectiveness of the primary
liquid herbal preparations on
the Ghanaian market. INNOSC package of all samples was determined using the seal integrity test. The presence
Theranostics and Pharmacological of microorganisms in the sampled brands was determined using nutrient agar.
Sciences, 6(2):0425. Isolated microorganisms from the sampled herbal mixtures were then identified
https://doi.org/10.36922/itps.0425 using various selective media. All 15 samples (100%) passed the seal integrity test.
Received: April 12, 2023 Ten (67%) out of the 15 samples were contaminated with various microorganisms,
Accepted: July 17, 2023 whereas the remaining 5 samples (33%) were devoid of microorganisms. Eight (53%)
out of the 15 samples were contaminated with fungi, with 3 (20%) being above
Published Online: August 9, 2023 the pharmacopeial limit. Six (40%) out of the 15 samples showed the presence of
Copyright: © 2023 Author(s). Escherichia coli. Out of the 15 sampled products, only HM11 contained Staphylococcus
This is an Open-Access article aureus. Similarly, only one sampled product (HM15) contained Salmonella typhi.
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution None of the sampled products was contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
License, permitting distribution, Ultimately, this study revealed that commercialized liquid herbal preparations
and reproduction in any medium, in Ghana are likely to be contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms. Good
provided the original work is
properly cited. manufacturing practices must therefore be strictly adhered to bring out the best in
local herbal manufacturing industries.
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional Keywords: Herbal medicines; Microbial quality; Good manufacturing practices
affiliations.

Volume 6 Issue 2 (2023) 1 https://doi.org/10.36922/itps.0425