Studies on Microbiological Contamination of Commercial Sample of Herbal Drugs

In present study five drug samples viz. Boerhaavia diffusa, Withania somnifera, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Centella asiatica and Ocimum sanctum were analysed for microbial load [total bacterial count and total yeast and mold count] and for specific pathogenic bacteria [E. coli, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa] as per WHO norms [Anonymous, 1998]. Total bacterial load is higher in three samples of herbal drugs [Boerhaavia diffusa, Glycyrrhiza glabra and Ocimum sanctum]. The total yeast and mold count in all five samples are beyond the range of WHO norms while specific pathogenic bacteria are absent in all five samples of herbal drugs.