MICROBIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL EVALUATION OF SEVERAL COMMERCIAL SAMPLES OF TILIAE FLOS

Abstract

The aim of our study was to evaluate the chemical and microbiological composition of seven commercial samples of Tiliae flos cum bracteis. Sample S2 presents the maximum level of microbiological contamination with 1.2x104 colony forming units (CFU) aerobic germs/g, 9.6x103 CFU fungi/g, and 360 CFU Salmonella sp./g. For all samples the number of colony forming units for each type of microorganisms was under the limits of European Pharmacopoeia, 8th edition. The amount of flavonoids ranges between 489±1.25 mg/100 g (S2) and 647±1.32 mg/100 g (S4). For polyphenols the quantities range between 663±2.12 mg/100 g (S2) and 1,169±2.76 mg/100 g (S3). The maximum levels of metals determined in mineralised extracts were: 10.35±0.22 mg Mn/100 g (S5), 22.66±0.23 mg Zn/100 g (S3), 1.36±0.12 mg Cu/100 g (S4), 9.92±0.12 mg Fe/100 g (S2), and 9.15±0.12 mg Pb/100 g (S3).

Keywords

• flavonoids
• metals
• microorganisms
• polyphenols
• Tiliae flos cum bracteis