Một số yếu tố liên quan nhiễm aflatoxin ở các vị thuốc đông dược tại Bệnh viện Y học cổ truyền Nghệ An năm 2023

Traditional herbal medicines play a crucial role in healthcare systems worldwide, including Vietnam, where their widespread use necessitates stringent quality control. However, these natural products are highly susceptible to contamination by various microorganisms, notably fungi, which can produce toxic secondary metabolites like aflatoxins. Aflatoxin contamination in traditional herbal medicines poses significant public health risks due to its potent carcinogenic and immunosuppressive properties. Despite growing awareness, comprehensive research on the prevalence and associated factors of aflatoxin in these remedies, particularly within specific regional contexts, remains limited. This study aims to address this gap by determining aflatoxin levels and identifying key factors contributing to contamination in traditional herbal medicines at Nghe An Traditional Medicine Hospital in 2023, underscoring the importance of robust quality assurance practices.

Healthcare professionals, public health officials, researchers in toxicology and traditional medicine, and policymakers involved in drug quality control.

This study investigated the prevalence and associated factors of aflatoxin contamination in 170 traditional herbal medicine samples collected from Nghe An Traditional Medicine Hospital in 2023. Utilizing a descriptive design with analytical components, the research aimed to quantify aflatoxin levels and identify risk factors within the local context. The findings revealed a substantial overall fungal contamination rate of 33.5% among the samples, with 9.41% exhibiting aflatoxin contamination. Specifically, 56.25% of contaminated samples contained one type of aflatoxin, 31.25% had two types, and 12.5% were contaminated with three types. Statistical analysis highlighted several significant associations with aflatoxin contamination. Fungal contamination, in general, was strongly linked to aflatoxin presence, increasing the risk by 5.165 times (OR=5.165, p<0.05). More specifically, contamination by Aspergillus spp. (OR=4.533, p<0.05) and other fungal species (OR=4.704, p<0.01) were identified as key contributing factors. Furthermore, the study found that Chinese herbal medicines carried a significantly higher risk of aflatoxin contamination compared to Vietnamese herbal medicines, with an OR of 7.373 (p<0.01). Samples with aflatoxin levels exceeding 0.5 ppb were also associated with higher risks (OR=5.268, p<0.05). These results underscore the critical need for enhanced quality control measures throughout the supply chain of traditional herbal medicines, from cultivation and harvesting to processing, storage, and distribution. The identification of specific fungal contaminants and the differential risk associated with Chinese herbal medicines provide valuable insights for targeted intervention strategies. The study's implications extend to improving patient safety by mitigating exposure to harmful mycotoxins and informing policy decisions regarding the regulation and surveillance of herbal drug quality, ultimately contributing to safer traditional medicine practices.