Planta Med 2010; 76 - P210
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1264508

Microbial contamination of commercial samples of Matricariae flos from Romania

O Cioanca 1, C Mircea 1, A Poiata 1, U Stanescu 1, M Hancianu 2
  • 1Gr. T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitatii Str. No.16, 700115 Iasi, Romania
  • 2Gr. T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitatii No.16, 700115 Iasi, Romania

Our research was focused on the assessment of pharmaceutical quality of 9 commercial samples (C1-C9) of Chamomillae flos marketed by Romanian pharmacies and one control sample (C0) exclusively produced by Sidroga for the pharmaceutical network. For a complete image of the quality we analyzed the samples in accordance to the requirements of the 5th European Pharmacopoeia [1] (in force at the time the products were marketed) including the microbial contamination. The contaminants are presentted in the table below.

Table 1: Microbial strains found in the investigated samples of Matricariae flos

Samples

Microbial strains

C0

C1

C2

C3

C4

C5

C6

C7

C8

C9

Escherichia coli

+

Moulds

Aspergillus sp.

Aspergillus niger, Rhyzops nigricans, Mucor mucedo, M. racemosus, Penicilium sp.

Penicilium sp.

Yeasts

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

TMC (CFU/g)

2000

1500

5000

2000

5800

6300

2800

3000

9800

1200

All in all, TMC (total microbial count) values for all samples were within the imposed limits, but compared to actual European Pharmacopoeia [2] 80% of the chamomile samples would not comply regarding the TYMC (total yeast and mould count).

References: 1. European Pharmacopoeia, 5th ed., EDQM, Strasbourg.

2. European Pharmacopoeia, 6th ed., EDQM, Strasbourg.