Moulds, yeasts and aerobic plate counts in ginseng supplements

Tournas, V.H.; Katsoudas, Eugenia; Miracco, Edward J.

doi:10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2005.11.009

Cited by 30 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…On the other hand, we have verified the absence of microorganisms in the samples. We have performed aerobic plate count experiments for mold, yeast, and aerobic mesophilic bacteria [59,60], for the reacting sample where the silver nitrate concentration was 15 mM. In the case of the aerobic mesophilic bacteria test, we used plate count agar as culture medium; the sample was incubated at 35°C for 48 h. The results show that no mesophilic bacteria grow in the plate (see Additional file 1: Figure S8).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using reducing agents obtained from natural sources (Rumex hymenosepalus extracts)

et al. 2013

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We have synthesized silver nanoparticles from silver nitrate solutions using extracts of Rumex hymenosepalus, a plant widely found in a large region in North America, as reducing agent. This plant is known to be rich in antioxidant molecules which we use as reducing agents. Silver nanoparticles grow in a single-step method, at room temperature, and with no addition of external energy. The nanoparticles have been characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy, as a function of the ratio of silver ions to reducing agent molecules. The nanoparticle diameters are in the range of 2 to 40 nm. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and fast Fourier transform analysis show that two kinds of crystal structures are obtained: face-centered cubic and hexagonal.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using reducing agents obtained from natural sources (Rumex hymenosepalus extracts)

et al. 2013

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“…42,43 Adulteration with undeclared over-the-counter and prescription drugs is also not uncommon and has been associated with serious adverse events and even deaths in some cases. 26,44,45 The contamination of raw plant materials and finished products with pesticides, bacteria, molds, fungi, and mycotoxins [46][47][48][49][50] constitutes another problem with potentially serious health consequences. 51 In addition, there have been reports of intentional or accidental substitution of plants.…”

Section: Continuedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public safety and dietary supplementation

Gershwin

Borchers

Keen

et al. 2010

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

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Approximately 6 in 10 Americans report regularly using some type of dietary supplement, and approximately 1 in 6 Americans reports using herbal remedies on a regular basis. The diversity of manufacturers, manufacturing processes, and quality control issues are enormous. As with all plant products, herbal products are complex mixtures of a variety of chemical constituents with considerable variation in the growth, harvesting, and storage conditions, including different extraction procedures. Furthermore, not only is there variation in batches, but also the potential for contamination. In addition, herbal products have the potential to interact with pharmaceuticals. These problems have led to consumer and physician confusion about the use of herbal products and have not been satisfactorily resolved, because the Food and Drug Administration has only very recently started to fulfill its mission of consumer protection in the realm of dietary supplements. More importantly, we provide a working plan for addressing this important issue.

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“…Food items including fresh fruits, prepackaged ready-to-eat food, and taste additives were tested as well. Food items were cultured as described previously with modifications (51,52). Tested items and swabs were inoculated into enrichment broth (containing peptone [10 g/liter], yeast extract [1 g/liter], dextrose [25 g/liter], and chloramphenicol [50 mg/liter]) and Sabouraud agar for incubation at 37°C.…”

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Outbreak of Intestinal Infection Due to Rhizopus microsporus

Cheng

Chan²,

Ngan³

et al. 2009

J Clin Microbiol

119

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Sinopulmonary and rhinocerebral zygomycosis has been increasingly found in patients with hematological malignancies and bone marrow transplantation, but intestinal zygomycosis remains very rare in the literature. We investigated an outbreak of intestinal infection due to Rhizopus microsporus in 12 patients on treatment for hematological malignancies over a period of 6 months in a teaching hospital. The intake of allopurinol during hospitalization (P < 0.001) and that of commercially packaged ready-to-eat food items in the preceding 2 weeks (P < 0.001) were found to be independently significant risk factors for the development of intestinal zygomycosis. A total of 709 specimens, including 378 environmental and air samples, 181 food samples, and 150 drug samples, were taken for fungal culture. Among them, 16 samples of allopurinol tablets, 3 prepackaged ready-to-eat food items, and 1 pair of wooden chopsticks were positive for Rhizopus microsporus, which was confirmed by ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rRNA gene cluster (internal transcribed spacer [ITS]) sequencing. The mean viable fungal counts of allopurinol obtained from wards and pharmacy were 4.22 ؋ 10 3 CFU/g of tablet (range, 3.07 ؋ 10 3 to 5.48 ؋ 10 3 ) and 3.24 ؋ 10 3 CFU/g of tablet (range, 2.68 ؋ 10 3 to 3.72 ؋ 10 3 ), respectively, which were much higher than the mean count of 2 ؋ 10 2 CFU/g of food. Phylogenetic analysis by ITS sequencing showed multiple clones from isolates of contaminated allopurinol tablets and ready-to-eat food, of which some were identical to patients' isolates, and with one isolate in the cornstarch used as an excipient for manufacture of this drug. We attempted to type the isolates by random amplification of polymorphic DNA analysis, with limited evidence of clonal distribution. The primary source of the contaminating fungus was likely to be the cornstarch used in the manufacturing of allopurinol tablets or ready-to-eat food. Rhizopus microsporus is thermotolerant and can multiply even at 50°C. The long holding time of the intermediates during the manufacturing process of allopurinol amplified the fungal load. Microbiological monitoring of drugs manufactured for highly immunosuppressed patients should be considered.Zygomycosis has become an important emerging infection in patients with hematological malignancy undergoing chemotherapy or bone marrow transplantation (24), especially with the availability of voriconazole as antifungal prophylaxis (25,28,44). Breakthrough zygomycosis in patients on voriconazole prophylactic treatment is usually manifested as sinopulmonary or rhinocerebral disease, since the fungal spores are ubiquitously found in the environment and could therefore be acquired through inhalation or traumatic inoculation through the skin or mucosa. Gastrointestinal zygomycosis has been a rare clinical entity (50, 54), but cases or outbreaks of tongue, gastric, or cutaneous zygomycosis due to Rhizopus microsporus after exposure to contaminated wooden tongue depressors have been reported (23,26,33).The Rhizopus microsporus species gr...

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Moulds, yeasts and aerobic plate counts in ginseng supplements

Cited by 30 publications

References 5 publications

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using reducing agents obtained from natural sources (Rumex hymenosepalus extracts)

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using reducing agents obtained from natural sources (Rumex hymenosepalus extracts)

Public safety and dietary supplementation

Outbreak of Intestinal Infection Due to Rhizopus microsporus

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