RSS-Feed abonnieren
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-20060
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York
Microbial Contamination of Medicinal Plants -
A Review[*]
Publikationsverlauf
June 2, 2001
September 22, 2001
Publikationsdatum:
31. Januar 2002 (online)
![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/plantamedica/200201/lookinside/thumbnails/10.1055-s-2002-20060-1.jpg)
Abstract
Medicinal plants may be associated with a broad variety of microbial contaminants, which are represented by bacteria, fungi and viruses. Inevitably, this microbiological background depends on several environmental factors and exerts an important impact on the overall quality of herbal products and preparations. Risk assessment of the microbial load of medicinal plants has therefore become an important subject in the establishment of modern Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) schemes. This study intends to contribute to this knowledge by giving a survey of published data regarding the microbial contamination of herbal plants, by dealing with methodological aspects and by considering the influence of different commonly used pharmaceutical preparation techniques on the microbiological status of the products. Finally, quality standards are discussed, which could be considered for guidelines and/or possible inclusion in the Ph.Eur. 2000.
Key words
Medicinal plants - herbal drugs - microbiological quality - review
1 * Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Fleischhacker, University of Vienna, on the occasion of his 70th birthday
References
- 1 Frank B. Mikroorganismen in Drogen. Der mikrobiologische Status von Drogen und Drogenzubereitungen und seine Beurteilung. Deutsche Apotheker Zeitung. 1989; 129 617-23
- 2 Wichtl M. Allgemeiner Teil. In : Teedrogen und Phytopharmaka. Ein Handbuch für die Praxis auf wissenschaftlicher Grundlage. 3. Auflage Stuttgart; Wissenschaftliche Verlags-GesmbH 1997: 5-31
- 3 Schilcher H. Rückstände und Verunreinigungen bei Drogen und Drogenzubereitungen. Planta Medica. 1982; 44 65-77
- 4 McKee L H. Microbial contamination of spices and herbs: a review. Lebensmittel-Wissenschaft und Technologie. 1995; 28 1-11
- 5 Czech E, Kneifel W, Kopp B. Microbiological status of commercially available medicinal herbal drugs - a screening study. Planta Medica. 2001; 67 263-9
- 6 Kalinovic I, Rozman V. Infestation of stored medicinal plants and herbal tea by insects and mites. Plant Protection Science. 2000; 36 21-2
- 7 Kneifel W, Berger E. Microbiological criteria of random samples of spices and herbs retailed on the Austrian market. Journal of Food Protection. 1994; 57 893-901
- 8 Farrell KT ( editor). Spices, Condiments and Seasonings, second edition. New York; Chapman & Hall 1990
- 9 Alonzo V, Monforte M T, Tumino G, Ragusa S, Bisignano G. A note on the microbial contamination of medicinal plants. Pharmeuropa. 1994; 6 47-55
- 10 Cosentino S, Tuberoso C IG, Pisano B, Satta M, Mascia V, Arzedi E, Palmas F. In-vitro antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of Sardinian Thymus essential oils. Letters in Applied Microbiology. 1999; 29 130-5
- 11 Aureli P, Costantini A, Zolea S. Antimicrobial activity of some plant essential oils against Listeria monocytogenes . Journal of Food Protection. 1992; 55 344-8
-
12 Cammue B PA, De Bolle M FC, Schoffs H ME, Terras F RG, Thevissen K, Osborn R W, Rees S B, Broekaert W F. Gene-encoded antimicrobial peptides from plants. In: Boman HG, Marsh J, Goode JA, editors
Antimicrobial peptides. Chichester; John Wiley & Sons Ltd 1994: 91-106 - 13 Cutter C N. Antimicrobial effect of herb extracts against Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella typhimurium associated with beef. Journal of Food Protection. 2000; 63 601-7
-
14 Nychas G JE, Tassou C C. Traditional preservatives - Oils and spices.
In: Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology. San Diego, San Francisco, New York; Academic Press 1999: 1717-22 - 15 Dorman H JD, Deans S G. Antimicrobial agents from plants: antibacterial activity of plant volatile oils. Journal of Applied Microbiology. 2000; 88 308-16
- 16 Härtling C. Untersuchungen über den mikrobiellen Zustand von Laxantien auf pflanzlicher Basis. Pharmazeutische Zeitung. 1983; 128 1006-8
- 17 Ruberto G, Baratta M T. Antioxidant activity of selected essential oil components in two lipid model systems. Food Chemistry. 2000; 69 167-74
- 18 Yanishlieva N V, Marinova E M, Gordon M H, Raneva V G. Antioxidant activity and mechanism of action of thymol and carvacrol in two lipid systems. Food Chemistry. 1999; 64 59-66
- 19 Mansour E H, Khalil A H. Evaluation of antioxidant activity of some plant extracts and their application to ground beef patties. Food Chemistry. 2000; 69 135-41
- 20 Völker L, Müller U, Zürner I, Nagel M. Entkeimung von Gewürzen. Grundlage und Notwendigkeit. Lebensmitteltechnik. 1998; 9 56-8
- 21 European P harmacopoeia. Kapitel 5.1.4 Mikrobiologische Qualität pharmazeutischer Zubereitungen. 3. Ausgabe, Nachtrag 2000: 370-1
- 22 Sincholle D, Cotta M, Guedon D, Coll R. Plantes médicinales et décontamination. Pharmaceutica Acta Helvetica. 1987; 62 14-8
- 23 Graf E, Scheer R. Keimzahlverminderung in Drogen und Hilfsstoffen. Pharmazeutische Industrie. 1980; 42 732-44
- 24 Favet J. Etude de la contamination microbienne d‘une vingtaine de drogues végétales. Pharmaceutica Acta Helvetica. 1992; 67 250-8
- 25 Härtling C. Beitrag zur Frage des mikrobiellen Zustandes pflanzlicher Drogen - Fakten und Folgerungen. Pharmazeutische Zeitung. 1987; 132 643-4
- 26 Delincée H, Ammon J, Billeskov I, Bomar M T, Ehlermann D AE. Keimreduzierung bei Drogen: Nachweis der Bestrahlung. Pharmazeutische Zeitung. 1990; 135 648-52
- 27 Brantner A, Lücke W. Influence of physical parameters on the germ-reducing effect of microwave irradiation on medicinal plants. Pharmazie. 1995; 50 762-6
- 28 Thonke M, Khang N D, Dressel H. Zum Keimgehalt pflanzlicher Drogen. Pharmazie. 1991; 46 284-6
- 29 Devleeschouwer M J, Dony J. Normés microbiologiques des drogues d‘origine végétale et leurs mélanges. Journal de Pharmacie de Belgique. 1979; 34 260-6
- 30 Friedrich H, Schneider D. Untersuchungen über den mikrobiologischen Status von Fructus Sennae TV (Tinnevelly Sennesfrüchte) des Handels. Deutsche Apotheker Zeitung. 1975; 115 1463-5
- 31 Leimbeck R. Teedrogen - Wie steht es mit der mikrobiologischen Qualität?. Deutsche Apotheker Zeitung. 1987; 127 1221-6
- 32 Dehne L I, Pfister M, Bögl K W. Neuere physikalische Verfahren zur Haltbarmachung von Lebensmitteln. Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz. 2000; 43 33-40
- 33 Hitokoto H, Morozumi S, Wauke T, Sakai S, Kurata H. Fungal contamination and mycotoxin detection of powdered herbal drugs. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 1978; 36 252-6
- 34 Kumar S, Roy A K. Occurrence of aflatoxin in some liver curative herbal medicines. Letters in Applied Microbiology. 1993; 17 112-4
- 35 Kolb N. Microbiological status of untreated herbal materials. Deutsche Lebensmittel-Rundschau. 1999; 95 263-9
- 36 Smelt J PPM, Quadt J FA. A proposal for using previous experience in designing microbiological sampling plans based on variables. Journal of Applied Bacteriology. 1990; 69 504-11
- 37 Dahms S, Hildebrandt G. Some remarks on the desingn of three-class sampling plans: A review. Journal of Food Protection. 1998; 61 757-61
- 38 Hildebrandt G, Böhmer L, Dahms S. Three-class attribute plans in microbiological quality control: a contribution to the discussion. Journal of Food Protection. 1995; 58 784-90
-
39 Baird R M. Monitoring microbiological quality: conventional testing methods. In: Denyer S, Baird R, editors
Guide to Microbiological Control in Pharmaceuticals . New York; Ellis Horwood Publishers 1990: 125-45 -
40 Hildebrandt G. Probenahme und Prüfpläne. In: Baumgart J, editor
Mikrobiologische Untersuchung von Lebensmitteln. Hamburg; Behr’s Verlag 1993: 1-15 - 41 Busse M. Über den Missbrauch von Probenahmeplänen. Deutsche Molkerei-Zeitung. 1989; 110 1370-7
- 42 Kabelitz L. Are the current requirements regarding the microbiological purity of medicinal plants practicable?. Pharmeuropa. 1997; 9 570-5
1 * Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Fleischhacker, University of Vienna, on the occasion of his 70th birthday
W. Kneifel
Department of Dairy Research & Bacteriology
University of Agricultural Sciences
Gregor Mendel-Str. 33
1180 Vienna
Austria
eMail:
Telefon: +43-1-47654-6103
Fax: +43-1-47654-6122