Investigation of the Phytochemicals, Metals Content and Antibacterial Activities of Commercial Herbal Preparations Sampled from Lagos Market, Nigeria

http://www.doi.org/10.26538/tjpps/v2i4.3

Abstract

As the use of herbal remedies gains popularity as an alternative form of medicine, it is crucial to ensure their safety. These natural substances consist of a variety of chemical elements, some of which may have beneficial effects while others may not. This study aims to explore the phytochemical composition, levels of trace and heavy metals (including cadmium, lead, copper, nickel, zinc, iron, manganese, sodium, and potassium), as well as the antibacterial properties of fifteen distinct herbal preparations found in pharmacies throughout Lagos State, Nigeria. Standard qualitative techniques were utilized to assess the phytochemical content, while the aqua regia digestion method in conjunction with the atomic absorption spectrophotometric technique was used to determine the metal content. For measuring the zone of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumonia, the agar well diffusion method was utilized to determine the antibacterial activity. The results of this study showed that all the herbal products have the presence of reducing sugars in different degrees while triterpenoids were absent in all the products. Metal concentrations in samples A-O were within recommended limits. The range of mean concentrations of the metals, Cd, Pb, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni, Na, K obtained were 0.0016-0.0153, 0.00005-0.0185, 0.0785-1.1395, 0.019-1.0380, 0.006-0.0915, 0.002-0.2900, 0.0017-0.0485, 0.4070-1.4795, 0.3195-2.334 µg/ml respectively. Only three samples B, D, and K were effective against Bacillus subtilis. While the other samples did not display antibacterial activities against the bacterial used. These herbal remedies can be considered safe, but long-term effects on health require further research.