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Alharbi SF, Althbah AI, Mohammed AH, Alrasheed MA, Ismail M, Allemailem KS, Alnuqaydan AM, Baabdullah AM, Alkhalifah A. Microbial and heavy metal contamination in herbal medicine: a prospective study in the central region of Saudi Arabia. BMC Complement Med Ther 2024; 24:2. [PMID: 38166914 PMCID: PMC10759756 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04307-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Herbal medicine is a medical system based on the utilization of plants or plant extracts for therapy. The continual increase in global consumption and the trade of herbal medicine has raised safety concerns in many regions. These concerns are mainly linked to microbial contamination, which could spread infections with multi-resistant bacteria in the community, and heavy metal contamination that may lead to cancers or internal organs' toxicity. METHODS This study was performed using an experimental design. A total of 47 samples, herbal medicine products sold in local stores in Qassim region, were used in the experiments. They were tested for bacterial contamination, alongside 32 samples for heavy metal analysis. Bacterial contamination was determined by the streak plate method and further processed to determine their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns using MicroScan WalkAway96 pulse; heavy metals were determined using a spectrometer instrument. RESULTS A total of 58 microorganisms were isolated. All samples were found to be contaminated with at least one organism except three samples. The majority of the isolated bacterial species were gram negative bacteria, such as Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas spp. and E. coli., which could be of fecal origin and may lead to pneumonia, skin, or internal infections. Furthermore, most of the gram-positive bacteria were found to be multi-drug resistant. Moreover, for heavy metals, all samples had levels exceeding the regulatory limits. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated the presence of bacteria and heavy metals in samples of herbal medicines. Using these contaminated products may spread resistant infections, metal toxicities, or even cancers in the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah F Alharbi
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, 51452, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ameerah I Althbah
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, 51452, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amal H Mohammed
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, 51452, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mishaal A Alrasheed
- Department of Laboratory and Blood Bank, King Fahd Specialist Hospital, 52211, Buraydah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Mukhtar Ismail
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Arts, Qassim University, Al-Rass, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Khaled S Allemailem
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, 51452, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah M Alnuqaydan
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Azzam Alkhalifah
- Department of Medicine, Unaizah College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Unaizah, Saudi Arabia.
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Yu J, Zheng Y, Song C, Chen S. New insights into the roles of fungi and bacteria in the development of medicinal plant. J Adv Res 2023:S2090-1232(23)00394-6. [PMID: 38092299 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2023.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The interaction between microorganisms and medicinal plants is a popular topic. Previous studies consistently reported that microorganisms were mainly considered pathogens or contaminants. However, with the development of microbial detection technology, it has been demonstrated that fungi and bacteria affect beneficially the medicinal plant production chain. AIM OF REVIEW Microorganisms greatly affect medicinal plants, with microbial biosynthesis a high regarded topic in medicinal plant-microbial interactions. However, it lacks a systematic review discussing this relationship. Current microbial detection technologies also have certain advantages and disadvantages, it is essential to compare the characteristics of various technologies. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW This review first illustrates the role of fungi and bacteria in various medicinal plant production procedures, discusses the development of microbial detection and identification technologies in recent years, and concludes with microbial biosynthesis of natural products. The relationship between fungi, bacteria, and medicinal plants is discussed comprehensively. We also propose a future research model and direction for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingsheng Yu
- Institute of Herbgenomics, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137 China; Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700 China
| | - Yixuan Zheng
- Institute of Herbgenomics, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137 China
| | - Chi Song
- Institute of Herbgenomics, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137 China
| | - Shilin Chen
- Institute of Herbgenomics, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137 China; Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700 China.
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Medically important bacteria isolated from commercial herbal medicines in Kampala city indicate the need to enhance safety frameworks. Sci Rep 2022; 12:16647. [PMID: 36198745 PMCID: PMC9533980 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21065-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The high global bacterial infection burden has created need to investigate the neglected potential drivers of pathogenic bacteria, to inform disease prevention. Kampala is facing a proliferation of herbalists, selling herbal medicine (HM), of largely unregulated microbiological quality. We evaluated the bacterial contamination burden in HM sold in Kampala, to support evidence-based redress. The total viable loads (TVL), total coliform counts (TCC), E. coli counts, and prevalence of selected bacterial strains in 140 HM were examined using conventional culture, following the guidelines of World Health Organization (WHO), and Uganda National Drug Authority (NDA). Data were analyzed using D'Agostino-Pearson test, frequencies, proportions, Chi-square, and Mann-Whitney U test with STATA version-15.0. Fifty (35.7%), fifty-nine (42.1%), and twelve (8.6%) HM were unsafe for human use because they exceeded WHO's permissible limits for TVL, TCC, and E. coli counts respectively. Solids had significantly higher mean TVL than liquids. Violation of NDA's guidelines was significantly associated with high TVL. Fifty-nine bacteria, viz., Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 34; 57.6%), Escherichia. coli (12; 20.3%), Staphylococcus aureus (7; 11.9%), Klebsiella oxytoca (3; 5.1%), Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp. (1; 1.7% each), were isolated from 45 (32.1%) samples. These bacteria can cause severe clinical diseases, and promote deterioration of HM potency.
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Walusansa A, Asiimwe S, Nakavuma JL, Ssenku JE, Katuura E, Kafeero HM, Aruhomukama D, Nabatanzi A, Anywar G, Tugume AK, Kakudidi EK. Antibiotic-resistance in medically important bacteria isolated from commercial herbal medicines in Africa from 2000 to 2021: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 2022; 11:11. [PMID: 35063036 PMCID: PMC8781441 DOI: 10.1186/s13756-022-01054-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Antimicrobial resistance is swiftly increasing all over the world. In Africa, it manifests more in pathogenic bacteria in form of antibiotic resistance (ABR). On this continent, bacterial contamination of commonly used herbal medicine (HM) is on the increase, but information about antimicrobial resistance in these contaminants is limited due to fragmented studies. Here, we analyzed research that characterized ABR in pathogenic bacteria isolated from HM in Africa since 2000; to generate a comprehensive understanding of the drug-resistant bacterial contamination burden in this region. Methods The study was conducted according to standards of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA). We searched for articles from 12 databases. These were: PubMed, Science Direct, Scifinder scholar, Google scholar, HerbMed, Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau Abstracts, African Journal Online, and Biological Abstracts. Prevalence and ABR traits of bacterial isolates, Cochran’s Q test, and the I2 statistic for heterogeneity were evaluated using MedCalcs software. A random-effects model was used to determine the pooled prevalence of ABR traits. The potential sources of heterogeneity were examined through sensitivity analysis, subgroup analysis, and meta-regression at a 95% level of significance. Findings Eighteen studies met our inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of bacterial resistance to at least one conventional drug was 86.51% (95% CI = 61.247–99.357%). The studies were highly heterogeneous (I2 = 99.17%; p < 0.0001), with no evidence of publication bias. The most prevalent multidrug-resistant species was Escherichia coli (24.0%). The most highly resisted drug was Ceftazidime with a pooled prevalence of 95.10% (95% CI = 78.51–99.87%), while the drug-class was 3rd generation cephalosporins; 91.64% (95% CI = 78.64–96.73%). None of the eligible studies tested isolates for Carbapenem resistance. Extended Spectrum β-lactamase genes were detected in 89 (37.2%) isolates, mostly Salmonella spp., Proteus vulgaris, and K. pneumonia. Resistance plasmids were found in 6 (5.8%) isolates; the heaviest plasmid weighed 23,130 Kilobases, and Proteus vulgaris harbored the majority (n = 5; 83.3%). Conclusions Herbal medicines in Africa harbor bacterial contaminants which are highly resistant to conventional medicines. This points to a potential treatment failure when these contaminants are involved in diseases causation. More research on this subject is recommended, to fill the evidence gaps and support the formation of collaborative quality control mechanisms for the herbal medicine industry in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Walusansa
- Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Biosciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. .,Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Islamic University in Uganda, P. O. Box 2555, Kampala, Uganda. .,Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Busitema University, Mbale, Uganda.
| | - Savina Asiimwe
- Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Biosciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Jesca L Nakavuma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Jamilu E Ssenku
- Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Biosciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Esther Katuura
- Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Biosciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Hussein M Kafeero
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Islamic University in Uganda, P. O. Box 2555, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Dickson Aruhomukama
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Alice Nabatanzi
- Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Biosciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Godwin Anywar
- Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Biosciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Arthur K Tugume
- Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Biosciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Esezah K Kakudidi
- Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Biosciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
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Walusansa A, Asiimwe S, Ssenku JE, Anywar G, Namara M, Nakavuma JL, Kakudidi EK. Herbal medicine used for the treatment of diarrhea and cough in Kampala city, Uganda. Trop Med Health 2022; 50:5. [PMID: 34991719 PMCID: PMC8739351 DOI: 10.1186/s41182-021-00389-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Globally, diarrheal and respiratory diseases are among the main causes of mortality and morbidity. In Uganda, cities are facing proliferation of trade in herbal medicines (HM), including those for diarrhea and/or cough. Information on the economic, and the ethnopharmacological aspects of these HM is scarce, deterring the sector from achieving optimal capacity to support national development. We profiled the anti-diarrhea and/or anti-cough HM, and the basic economic aspects of HM trade in Kampala city, to support ethnopharmacological knowledge conservation and strategic planning. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 65 herbalists using semi-structured questionnaires. This was supplemented by an observational survey using a high-resolution digital camera. Data were collected following the guidelines for research on HM, established by Uganda National Drug Authority, and World Health organization. RESULTS Eighty-four plant species from 41 families were documented. Fabaceae and Myricaceae had the highest number of species (9, 10.7% each). Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck was the most commonly cited for cough, with a relative frequency of citation (RFC) of 1.00, and its relative medical importance was not significantly different from the other top 5 species except for Azadirachta indica A.Juss (RFC = 0.87). Entada abyssinica A. Rich (RFC = 0.97) was the most cited for diarrhea. Trees (34, 40.5%) were mostly used, and mainly harvested from wild habitats (55.2%) in 20 districts across Uganda. These HM were mainly sold as powders and concoctions, in markets, shops, pharmacies, and roadside or mobile stalls. The highest prices were Uganda Shillings (UGX) 48,000 ($13.15)/kg for Allium sativum L, and UGX 16,000 ($4.38)/kg for C. limon. All participants used HM trade as a sole source of basic needs; majority (60.0%) earned net monthly profit of UGX. 730,000 ($200) ≤ 1,460,000 ($400). The main hindrances to HM trade were the; disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 65, 100%), and the scarcity of medicinal plants (58, 89.2%). CONCLUSION There is a rich diversity of medicinal plant species traded in Kampala to treat diarrhea and cough. The HM trade significantly contributes to the livelihoods of the traders in Kampala, as well as the different actors along the HM value chain throughout the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Walusansa
- Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Biosciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Habib Medical School, Islamic University in Uganda, Kampala, Uganda.
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Busitema University, Mbale, Uganda.
| | - Savina Asiimwe
- Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Biosciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Jamilu E Ssenku
- Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Biosciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Godwin Anywar
- Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Biosciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Milbert Namara
- College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Cir, Baltimore, MD, 21250, USA
| | - Jesca L Nakavuma
- Department of Biomolecular and Biolaboratory Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Esezah K Kakudidi
- Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Biosciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
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