Occurrence of aflatoxin in some liver curative herbal medicines |
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Authors: | S Kumar AK Roy |
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Institution: | Medicinal Plant Research Laboratory, University Department of Botany, Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur, 812007 India |
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Abstract: | Fifty herbal medicine samples of seven different taxa known to cure liver disorders were analysed for aflatoxin contamination. Twenty-three samples, out of 50, were contaminated with various levels of aflatoxins. Amongst the 23 contaminated samples the maximum level of aflatoxin B1 recorded was 2.23 μg g-1 in Asparagus racemosus and the minimum 0.28 μg g-1 in Emblica officinalis . Aflatoxin G1 was only found in one species, Terminalia belarica . Aflatoxin production of the isolates of Aspergillus flavus was also examined and the highest levels were produced by isolates from A. racemosus (1.07-2.47 μg ml-1). Aflatoxin contamination of herbal drugs may be a risk for patients because the level of aflatoxins is much higher than the tolerance level fixed by the WHO for foods. |
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