MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION IN HERBS

Authors

  • DARAKHSHAN ARA Mathematics and Humanities, Dawood University of Engineering and Technology Karachi, Pakistan.
  • HUMERA ANWER Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science Technology, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Campus Karachi, Pakistan
  • RUBINA PARWEEN Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science Technology, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Campus Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

Pale catechu, Olibanum and Hyoscyamus niger are widely used as clinically as well as home remedy. This study was conducted to evaluate the microbial load in terms of colony forming units such as fungi and bacteria in the samples of selected herbs. In this regard, media culture Petri plate technique was employed and Potato dextrose agar (PDA) and Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) were prepared for the fungal investigation while Nutrient Agar (NA) for the development of bacterial colonies. The total mycobiota comprised of five species namely Alternaria solani, Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Fussarium oxysporum and Neurospora cressa. The samples of Bosvelia serrate exhibited the highest fungal diversity and lowest bacterial counts in contrast to other herbal samples. Among all isolated species, A.niger was recorded as least abundant whereas Neurospora cressa was found most abundant fungal specie.

Author Biographies

DARAKHSHAN ARA, Mathematics and Humanities, Dawood University of Engineering and Technology Karachi, Pakistan.

Department of Basic Sciences, 

HUMERA ANWER, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science Technology, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Campus Karachi, Pakistan

Department of Chemistry, 

RUBINA PARWEEN, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science Technology, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Campus Karachi, Pakistan

Department of Chemistry, 

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Published

2015-12-06

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 2 (2015): Volume 5 (2) December, 2015

Section

Articles

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