Mycological and Aflatoxin B1, B2, G1 and G2 Analysis and Its Effect On Storage Practices for Herbal Medicines in Yobe State Northeast Nigeria

Abstract

There is increased reliance on traditional herbal medicines by several millions of people worldwide, especially in West Africa and Nigeria in particular. This is due to escalating cost of good quality drugs and consequent proliferation of faked cheaper drugs. However, non standardization of production and handling methods have resulted in herbal medicines with varying quality and safety indices, thus resulting in possible public health concerns. This work investigated mycological and aflatoxin B1, B2, G1 and G2 analysis and its effect on storage practices for herbal medicines in Yobe State Northeast Nigeria. A total of five (5) samples was obtained from renowned herbal medicine practitioners in Damaturu Yobe state in Nigeria, fresh and stored for 35, 70, 105 and 105 days, based on their medicinal uses, were analyzed to determine the microbial load by the plate count method and aflatoxin contamination levels using thin layer chromatography with aflatoxin standards. At least seven (7) fungi genera (Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium) were isolated. Aflatoxin B1, B2, G1 and G2 were detected in varying concentrations in the samples analyzed. Some of these herbal concoctions were found to contain unacceptably high bioload, according to WHO standards. Microbial contamination and the presence of aflatoxins in herbal medicines appear to be an endemic problem in Nigeria, as observed in this work, probably due to poor observation of basic hygiene during preparations and poor storage conditions. The findings in this work may serve in developing and instituting public health standards for the production and safety of herbal remedies in Damaturu, Yobe state Nigeria.