Page 343 - Applied Pharmacognosy

Problems of UTnypreegs uoflaCtheedmHicearlbmaal rDkreursgs
 DeteriorationofHerbalDrugs
Bacteria & Molds

 Dried herbs are particularly liable to be
contaminated with their spores, which are
alwayspresentintheair.

 Itisgenerallyacceptedthatthe viablecount
permissibleforcrudedrugsshouldbe
thesameasthatforthefoodstuff .

 The effect produced by bacteria is not
alwaysvisible withtheexceptionofsome
chromogenicspeciesofbacteria,whichmay
produceredpatchesinstarchymaterials.

 However,thepresenceofmouldsis quickly
evidentbythecharacteristicsmelland
the mass of hyphae which bind the
particlesofthedrug.