Investigation of Selected Pathogenic Microorganisms and Toxic Elements in Herbal Materials Used in Management of Oral Health in Nairobi County, Kenya

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorGikonyo, N.K.
dc.contributor.authorNgari, Florence W.
dc.contributor.authorWanjau, R. N.
dc.contributor.authorNjagi, E.N.M.
dc.date.accessioned2014-05-21T13:02:43Z
dc.date.available2014-05-21T13:02:43Z
dc.date.issued2013
dc.descriptionArticleen_US
dc.description.abstractTraditional medical practitioners in Kenya have used herbal materials to treat oral diseases for several years.However data on contamination of the herbal medicine with microbial pathogens and toxic metals is lacking.The aim of this study was to investigate presence of selected pathogenic microorganisms and selected elemental levels of herbal materials used in management of oral health in Nairobi. Herbal materials were purchased from Nairobi County and taken to the laboratory for analysis. Microbial contaminants were analyzed by inoculating the herbal samples in selective media followed by macroscopic, microscopic and biochemical studies to identify the microorganisms. Mineral elements were investigated by Total Reflection XRay Fluorescence (TXFR). Results indicate that herbal materials are contaminated with, Escherichia coli,Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi. The herbal materials are also contaminated with aluminium,chromium, manganese, iron, copper, zinc and lead at various concentrations. The study concludes that some herbal materials in the market are not safe for use by humans orally.en_US
dc.identifier.citationJ. Appl. Environ. Biol. Sci., 3(12)1-7, 2013en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/9572
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherJournal of Applied Environmental and Biological Sciencesen_US
dc.subjectmicrobial contaminantsen_US
dc.subjecttoxic metalsen_US
dc.subjectherbal materialsen_US
dc.titleInvestigation of Selected Pathogenic Microorganisms and Toxic Elements in Herbal Materials Used in Management of Oral Health in Nairobi County, Kenyaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Investigation of selected pathogenic microorganisms....pdf
Size:
183 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
full article
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
RP-Department of Pharmacy & Complementary / Alternative Medicine