Fungal Contaminants of Herbal Medicinal Products Sold in Gombe Market, Gombe State

The use of herbal medicinal products is deeply embedded in the healthcare practices of communities across the North East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, yet the microbiological quality of these products is rarely monitored. This study examined fungal contamination levels in herbal medicinal products sold in the Gombe central market, Gombe State. Sixty samples comprising powdered herbs, liquid preparations, and ointments were collected from 15 vendors and processed using standard mycological techniques including direct microscopy and culturing on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) supplemented with chloramphenicol. Fungal isolates were identified morphologically and microscopically to genus and species level. Results revealed that 75 percent of sampled products harbored fungal contaminants exceeding acceptable pharmacopoeial limits. The predominant fungal genera isolated were Aspergillus (58%), Penicillium (21%), Candida (12%), and Rhizopus (9%). Aflatoxin-producing Aspergillus flavus strains were identified in 22 percent of powdered herb samples. These findings raise serious safety concerns for consumers, particularly immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women who frequently use these products. The absence of standardized packaging, labelling, and regulatory oversight was identified as key contributing factors to contamination. The study recommends the integration of mycotoxin screening into routine quality control frameworks for herbal products and urges NAFDAC to intensify market inspections in the North East region. Keywords: herbal medicines, fungal contamination, Aspergillus, aflatoxin, Gombe.