Heavy Metals and Microbial Contaminants in a Commercial Polyherbal Product in Nigeria

Abstract

The heavy metal and microbial contaminants levels were evaluated in a commercial polyherbal product against the backdrop of reports of high levels of such contaminants in similar herbal products elsewhere in Nigeria, India and China. Atomic absorption spctrophotometric technique was used for the analysis of the herbal product for the levels of heavy metal contents while the bacterial count was by the pour plate culture method and the subsequent specific identification was achieved by sub culturing and application of Cowan and Steel procedures. The result showed that, Nasara pile syrup (NPS) contained lead, nickel, cadmium, chromium, copper and manganese in excess of the WHO permissible maximum limit  for heavy metals in consumable items. The total bacteria count was 2.86 x 107 CFU/mL and the bacteria identified included Bacillus cerus, Bacillus spharicus, Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus lentus, Lactus bacillus and Yeast.
The bacteria load was high enough to initiate gastrointestinal infection. These results suggest that prolong consumption of the herbal product may result in heavy metal accumulation in the body and chronic poisoning. Therefore, the distribution and consumption of this herbal product should be strictly regulated.

Key words: Nasara pile syrup, heavy metals, microbial contaminants, herbal product.