Survey of the Quality of Herbal Medicines in the Public Health Regions 4 and 5

Abstract

       Herbal medicines take an important part in today’s medical treatment. This growing popularity results in increasing its production. Although regulations are enforced to standardize the quality of products, however, adulteration of modern synthetic medicines is usually found since it can accelerate the treatment outcome. Moreover, microbial and heavy metals contaminations are also detected. Therefore, to obtain information on the prevention and resolution of such problems, Regional Medical Sciences Center 5^th Samut Songkhram in collaboration with Provincial Health Offices in Regions 4 and 5 has undergone surveillance program. The 205 samples were collected from manufacturers and distributors during October 2007 to September 2008. Adulteration of modern medicines, heavy metals and microbial contamination were analyzed. The results showed that 37 samples, 18.05%, were failed compared to the criteria, which 27 samples were modern medicine adulterated, 8 samples were over-limited of microbial contaminated, 1 sample was over-limited of heavy metal contaminated and 1 sample was over-limited in both microbial and heavy metal contaminated. These findings indicated that the quality of herbal medicines still did not meet the criteria, which the most prevalent problem was modern medicine adulteration. Most drug samples which were unregistered and unknown production origin caused these problems. Related organizations should pay more attention and solve this problem systematically and continually.