[en] In the Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology research on microbiological decontamination of medicinal herbs by irradiation has been carried out since 1996. It was shown that using ionizing radiation (a dose of 10 kGy) can obtain satisfactory results of microbiological decontamination of these products. The content of essential biologically active substances such as essential oils, flavonoids, glycosides, anthocyans, antra-compounds, poliphenoloacids, triterpene saponins, oleanosides and plants mucus did not change significantly after irradiation. Pharmacological activity of medicinal herbs has been found satisfactory after microbiological decontamination by irradiation

[en] Degree of microbiological decontamination, organoleptic and physico-chemical properties of natural honeys were investigated after radiation treatment. Seven kinds of honeys were irradiated with the beams of 10 MeV electrons from a 10 kW linear accelerator ''Elektronika 10-10'' at the dose 10 kGy. It was shown, that after irradiation, the total count of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and moulds decrease by 99%. The antibiotic value in investigated honeys increased in turn from 1.67 to 2.67 after irradiation. Such factors and parameters of investigated honeys as their consistency, content of water and saccharose, acidity, the diastase and 5-HMF values were not changed significantly after irradiation. Decontamination by irradiation is a process which allows us to obtain high microbiological purity of honeys. It is especially needed, when honeys are used in surgical treatment of injuries and in nutrition of babies with food deficiency

[en] Poland is one of 27 members of International Consulting Group for Food Irradiation (ICFGI), who allows microbiological decontamination of spices and herbs with ionizing radiation dose not greater than 10 kGy. Ionizing radiation doses 1-10 kGy significantly decrease contamination of herbs and spices with aerobic bacteria, yeast-like fungi and mold spores. Important issue concerning microbiological decontamination of herbs is the influence of radiation on biologically active substances. Investigations show that most of herbs subjected to this process do not change its chemical composition (essential oils, alkaloids, antocyanes, phenol glycosides, triterpen saponins, flavenoids)

[en] Short communication

[en] Several thousand tons of medical herbs are produced annually by pharmaceutical industry in Poland. This product should be of highest quality and microbial purity. Recently, chemical methods of decontamination are recognized as less safe, thus irradiation technique was chosen to replace them in use. In the Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology the national program on the application of irradiation to the decontamination of medical herbs is in progress now. The purpose of the program is to elaborate, on the basis of research work, the facility standards and technological instructions indispensable for the practice of radiation technology

No abstract available

No abstract available

[en] Microbiological contamination of herbal raw materials is a serious problem in the production of therapeutical preparations. A good quality of the product, according to the pharmaceutical requirements may be achieved by applying suitable methods of decontamination. The decontamination treatments should be fast and effective against all microorganisms. It should ensure the decontamination of both packaging and the product in order to act effectively against all the microorganisms present and must not reduce the sensory and technological qualities of the commodities. In the paper, the results of comparative investigations on the microbiological decontamination of herbal raw materials by chemical (ethylene oxide, methyl bromide) and physical method (irradiation) are presented. Decontamination of herbal raw materials by irradiation is a method by choice. It is because chemical methods have been recognized recently as not safe to the consumer. Irradiation, in turn, is technically feasible, very effective and friendly enough to environment process

[en] 3 types of honey; polyfloral, lime and acacia were used in these studies. The above types of honey were located in the plastic containers and irradiated by 10 kGy. It was found that irradiation decreased the amount of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and fungi by an average of 99%. After irradiation antibiotic index of studied types of honey increased by an average from 1.67 to 2.67. Colour, taste, acidity, diastase activity and 5-HMF content did not change radically either. Above results show that ionizing radiation in a dose of 10 kGy can be used to obtain honey with microbiological purity. This purity is indispensable specially when the honeys are used in surgical treated injuries and in the babies nutrition with food deficiency. (author)

No abstract available