Evaluating the microbial contamination of some Iranian dried medicinal plants and distillates

In Iran herbal water and dried herb are as traditional medicinal and are consumed widely. Therefore, microbial evaluation of these products in term of public health is important. The aim of the present study was to study the contamination of some dried medical plants and distillates in the groceries of Shahrekord city.
In this descriptive study, 35 samples of herbal waters and 35 samples of 7 species (lavender, lemon balm, valerian, savory, borage, mint and thyme) dried medicinal plant (total samples=70) distributed in Shahrekord during spring to summer of 2012 were purchased and transferred to laboratory. Then, microbial tests such as total aerobic bacterial count mold and yeast count, total coliforms, and detection were evaluated based on national standard of Iran.
Contamination to mesophilic bacteria and yeast was observed in the 100% of distilled samples, based on the national standard of Iran. Additionally, none of the medicinal dried plant was contaminated according to the national standard of Iran.
According to contamination of all distilled, It is proposed that producers of herbal distillates consider the hygiene conditions, using correct and suitable pasteurization, considering the structural condition of workshop and also appropriate packaging in order to reduce the secondary contamination and increase the quality of the finished product.