Microbiological Evaluation of Traditional Herbal Medicines Commonly Practiced in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

Traditional medicine remains a widely practiced approach to managing various health conditions across both developed and developing nations. In fact, despite significant progress in modern medical science, nearly 70–80% of people in developing regions continue to rely on alternative or non-conventional therapies as their primary source of healthcare. In this study, traditional herbal remedies recommended for particular diseases and prepared in different dosage forms were obtained from local practitioners across various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The samples were screened for the detection of any microbial burden and also evaluated for selected strains of bacteria and fungi using standard methods, involved the inoculation of samples on culture media including; Nutrient Agar, Mannitol Salt Agar, MacConkey Agar and Sabouraud Dextrose Agar). The plates were then observed after an incubation period of 3 days bacteria at 32.5°C and molds at 25°C. Morphological characters were observed from their physical appearance, while microscopic characterization was done by Gram staining and biochemical tests. Microbial contamination was identified in 70% of the analyzed samples, with Staphylococcus aureus being the predominant microorganism (52%), followed by Escherichia coli (29%), Salmonella spp. (14%), and Candida albicans (8%) among the contaminated samples. These findings highlight the critical need for regulatory authorities to implement effective measures to prevent microbial contamination in traditional medicines and to establish standardization protocols, thereby ensuring public health safety in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.