Fungi associated with herbal drug plants during storage.
Samples of sundried herbal drug plant parts stored for sale were purchased from four herbal markets located in Ibadan, Nigeria. The plant parts were analysed for mycoflora associated with their storage. Fungal colony counts ranged from 0.60 x 10(2) to 3.50 x 10(2) within the period of the survey. Twenty eight fungal species were isolated with the species of Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Fusarium moniliforme, Trichoderma viride, Penicillium expansum and Mucor fragilis being the dominant ones. There were marked differences between the flora obtained on fresh plant parts and those stored for sale. The results obtained showed that herbal drug plant pieces stored for sale in the markets are hazardous for human health. There is therefore the need for some form of quality control and decontamination before they are used for herbal drug preparations.
Efuntoye
M O
MO
Department of Biological Sciences, Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria.
D001230:Aspergillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004340:Drug Contamination; D004356:Drug Storage; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005670:Fusarium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D009089:Mucor / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009549:Nigeria; D010407:Penicillium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000382:microbiology*; D014242:Trichoderma / Q000302:isolation & purification