Cordia verbenacea DC and Mikania sp.: INTERFERENCE IN THE MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY CONTROL ASSAY

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the microbial contamination of Mikania sp. (plant drug, tincture and syrup) and Cordia verbenacea (plant drug, tincture and ointment). Furthermore, it had been investigated the possible interference caused by secondary metabolites from these species on proposed evaluation. The microbial contamination was determined using the pour plate method. The evaluation of the interference in the process of the microbiological quality was performed by determining the recovery of viable microorganisms using Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Candida albicans (ATCC 90028). In the evaluation the microbiological quality, dried leaves from C. verbenacea and Mikania sp. showed 4.5 x 104 CFU/g and 2.08 x 104 CFU/g of bacteria, respectively. Regarding count of C. verbenacea tincture, was found 3.3 x 103 CFU/mL for yeasts and molds and 2.2 x 103 CFU/ mL for bacteria. For the ointment containing C. verbenacea tincture was found 1.1 x 103 CFU/g of bacteria, while fungi were not detected. Regarding microbial contamination of the syrup was not observed growth of bacteria, molds and yeasts in any of  repetitions. Also, derivatives from both species were able to inhibit the growth of strains of E. coli and C. albicans. Thus, the presence of secondary metabolites with antimicrobial activity on C. verbenacea and Mikania sp. seems to interfere in the evaluation of the microbiological quality of products derived from plant drug.