This investigation was designed to through light on the microbial status of some powdered herbal materials used in Triphala preparation. A total of 68 powdered samples Emblica officinalis (Amla), Terminalia belerica (Baheda) and Terminalia chebula (Harada) were collected from random sources in Gwalior market. Mycological analysis of powdered samples was carried out for the detection and enumeration of fungi using standard media. Samples were also investigated from mycotoxilogical point of view to identify mycotoxins associated. Fungal contamination was found in almost 91% of the samples. Aspergillus and Penicillium genera were detected more frequently than other genera i.e. Helminthosporium, Curvularia, Geotrichum, Fusarium, Rhizopus, Paecilomyces. In total, 771 fungal isolates belonging to 14 fungal species and 8 different genera were recorded. Overall, six species of genus Aspergillus and three of genus Penicillium were dominant. In spite of this natural infection of powder samples, only 14 (20.58%) out of 68 samples analyzed were found to be positive for mycotoxins including aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1 and G2), citrinin and sterigmatocystin. Therefore, study concluded that, as herbal drugs seems to be high risk products, thus require designing some more appropriate methods of their decontamination. Introduction The use of Ayurveda is one of the oldest, richest and most diverse traditions, associated with the use of medicinal plants in India (Tandon et al., 2004). In this system of medicine, different parts of the medicinal plants are used in crude as well as powdered form. Over 8000 plant species have been reported to prepare some 25,000 formulations to treat various ailments (Dubey, 2004). According to Ayurveda, perfect digestion is the basis of all health. Trifla churn a wonderful ayurvedic drug act as perfect tonic for proper digestion (Pandey et al., 2008). Triphala literally means “three fruits, is a combination of Emblica officinalis (Garetn.) (Amla), Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. (Baheda), and Terminalia chebula (Retz.) (Harada) are medicinally important in raw and powdered form. Amla, one of the three ingredients in Triphala, is the richest known natural source of vitamin C, which helps in the production of collagen, which is necessary to keep skin supple and thick. Baheda contain tannins, sitosterol, gallic acid used mainly as tonic, laxative in cough as well as in piles and dyspepsia. Haritiki contains 24-32% tannins used to cure acidity and dysentery. Fruit decoction is used in bleeding and ulceration of the gums (Wealth of India, 1952 & 1976). Trifla has many specific effects. It is particularly rejuvenating for the digestive tract, and also cure dyspepsia, anaemia, impurity of blood, hyperlipidaemia, skin diseases, excessive heat and irritation of eyes (Juss, 1997). As the case with other herbal drugs, raw material and powdered ingredients of trifla i.e. E. officinalis, T. bellirica and T. chebula are also subject to operations of contamination by microorganisms during growth (while the fruits are on tree), after harvesting (when fruits are dried), processing and during storage. Post-harvest spoilage by filamentous fungi is one of the most common threats associated with processed and stored herbal products. Fungal contamination of stored herbal drugs not only linked to discoloration, quality deterioration, reduction in commercial values as well as in therapeutic potential but the mycotoxin produced by them in these herbal drugs can also cause several ailments of liver, kidney, nervous system, muscular, skin, respiratory organs, digestive tract, genital organs, etc. (Muntanola, 1987; Purchase, 1974; Durakovic et al., 1989; Rai and Mehrotra 2005; Trucksessand and Scott, 2008). Mycological studies of trifla churn have shown that fungal genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Curvularia, Helminthosporium, Chaetomium, Rhizopus, Mucor and Aflatoxin (AFB& G), Citrinin and Sterigmatocystin are natural trifla churn contamina
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