Quality control of a trademark of boldo tisanes commercialized in Costa Rica according to Central America technical regulation guidelines

Abstract

Aim: The Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Assessment (LAYAFA in Spanish) of the Universidad de Costa Rica has been working in the quality control of the tisanes as part of the Health Ministry state vigilance of natural products. The objective was to evaluate characteristics in regard to the quality of a trademark of boldo tisanes commercialized in Costa Rica, according to the assays established by the Central America Technical Regulation (RTCA in Spanish). Methods: The following assays stipulated in the RTCA were performed: organoleptic properties,foreign matter determination, labeled requirements,total ash determination, minimum fill, total aerobic microbial count, total combined molds and yeasts count, test for E. coli and Salmonella sp. Results: The organoleptic properties differ, in some way, from the parameters established in the official literature, because of the presence of foreign matter. Though,it was according to the assay when this matter was separated. For the labeled requirements, six entries were not found. The total ash determination brought a mean value of 11% and for the minimum fill, its mean value was 92%, with two tisanes with values lower than 90%. The total aerobic microbial count and total combined molds and yeast count assay were respectively 400 and 6000 CFU (colony forming units)/g of product, while there was absence of E. Coli and Salmonella sp. Conclusion: The product is according to the values established for the assays, with exception of labeled requirements and minimum fill.