Microbial content and elemental analysis of some locally prepared herbal remedies (<i>Agbo</i>) in Ibadan metropolis

This study assessed the safety of two herbal remedies, Agbo Iba and Agbo Jedi commonly sold in Ibadan metropolis. The samples were analyzed for phytochemical composition, microbial contamination, pH level, and elemental content. Phytochemical screening identified alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, saponins, steroids, tannins and glycosides. Elemental analysis revealed sodium concentration ranging from 186.67 ± 1.7 to 283.33 ± 4.41 mg/100 g in Agbo Iba and Agbo Jedi, respectively. Lead content ranged from 0.04 ± 0.01 to 0.10 ± 0.00 mg/100 g in Agbo Iba and 0.03 ± 0.00 to 0.05 ± 0.00 mg/100 g in Agbo Jedi, while cadmium content ranged from 0.01 ± 0.00 to 0.02 ± 0.00 mg/100 g in Agbo Iba, it was absent in Agbo Jedi. The pH of all samples was acidic ranging from 2.79 to 4.41. Bacterial counts in Agbo Iba and Agbo Jedi exceeded European pharmacopoeia contamination limits ranging from 2 × 108 to 88 × 108 cfu/mL and 2 × 108 to 126 × 108 cfu/mL respectively. These findings highlight potential health hazards associated with these herbal remedies despite their rich phytochemical content. Stringent quality assurance and standardization by government agencies are essential to ensure safety and efficacy of herbal remedies for public use.