Abstract

COMPARATIVE DETERMINATION OF POTENTIAL CONTAMINANTS IN MAHARASNADI KADHA HERBAL FORMULATION AS PER WHO GUIDELINES

Priya S. Thote*, Dr. Suhas N. Sakarkar, Shrikant D. Mahajan, Sachin Dudhe

Abstract

Herbal medicines are widely used to manage various health conditions, but their safety and quality can sometimes be affected by contaminants like heavy metals, microbes, pesticide residues, and aflatoxins. In this study, we evaluated the quality and safety of five popular Maharasnadi Kadha products following guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) and AYUSH standards. We looked at physical and chemical properties such as taste, smell, pH, and total solid content. We also tested for heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury), microbial contamination, pesticide residues, and aflatoxins using standard methods. The results showed that all five products had good physical and chemical qualities, with pH levels between 4.13 and 4.50. Heavy metal levels were within safe limits, and mercury was undetectable in all samples. Microbial counts met WHO standards, and no harmful microbes were found. Pesticide residues and aflatoxins were either not detected or were within safe limits. Overall, all the tested Maharasnadi Kadha formulations met WHO and AYUSH quality standards, indicating they are safe and of good quality. These findings highlight the importance of regular quality checks and regulatory oversight to ensure the safety, reliability, and wider acceptance of Ayurvedic herbal products worldwide.

Keywords: Heavy metals, microbes, pesticide residues, and aflatoxins.