Abstract

Traditional herbal products with multiple associated plant species and weight loss claims are widely consumed. The inadequacy of these resources to health standards, the lack of supervision, and the analytical obstacles involved in their investigation are challenges and reasons for this research. In this sense, this study aimed to characterize the profiles: Phytochemical, physical, physicochemical, and microbiological, of eight brands of crude drugs commercialized for the preparation of weight loss teas in the cities of Salvador and Lauro de Freitas in Bahia, Brazil. Phytochemical tests showed the presence of total phenolics and flavonoids using spectrophotometric and spectroscopic techniques. In the spectrophotometric assay of phenolics, two samples, 5A and 6A (same formulation), showed 185 and 140 mg EGA.g-1, respectively. In the content of flavonoids, samples 6A (eight drugs) and 1A (five drugs) obtained 56.2 and 52.8 mg EQ.g-1, respectively, superior results compared to samples with a higher amount of drugs. In microbiological analyses, one sample was outside the bromatological limits for thermotolerant coliforms, and two disagreed with ANVISA legislation for the limits of molds and yeasts. The study points to the need to regulate physical, physicochemical, and microbiological parameters for herbal mixtures, adopt good practices by manufacturers, and expand local health inspection.

Key words: Medicinal teas, traditional products, authenticity, weight loss, phytotherapy.