Canadian Journal of Pure & Applied Sciences

Abstract: The study investigated and characterized the microbes that contaminate and cause spoilage of most dry herbal medicinal powders/teas sold on the Ghanaian Market. Also investigated was the microbial load of these herbal powders/teas using pour plate and/or spread plate methods. Ten herbal medicinal powders were analyzed. The powdered herbal medicinal powders were taken through irradiation processes at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission. The results showed that all the dry powders were contaminated. The microbial load count of the samples indicated thirty percent (3 out of 10) of the dry powders achieved the specifications for both aerobic bacteria and fungal growth whilst one hundred percent (10 out of 10) of the dry powders irradiated were free from microbial contamination. The characterization of the isolated microbes confirmed the dominance of members of the genus Bacillus, Rhizopus, Aspergillus and Candida in the dry powders included. In conclusion, the study confirmed that most herbal medicinal products on the Ghanaian market are contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, yeasts and moulds. Therefore, there is the need for constant monitoring and control of the standards of herbal medicines.