加馬輻射照射對中藥材滅菌及成份影響評估

周鳳英
國立清華大學
本研究目的為探討中藥材加馬線照射滅菌之最適條件及評估輻射照射對中藥材成分之影響，建立中藥材貯存方法。研究結果將提供中醫藥委員會研訂中藥材品質管制之標準，及供業界依循之作業程序。中藥材因基原、加工、保存等方式不同，微生物含量及種類有極大差異。目前國內中藥材無特定包裝規範，多以無包裝的方式貯存與流通，在台灣高溫、多濕的環境下，易因其中微生物生長腐蝕而耗損藥材成份、抑低療效，甚或產生不良物質，尤其生服之藥材將更直接影響食用者之衛生安全。我們先前研究已完成38種中藥材及5種科學中藥方劑之輻射滅菌研究，結果顯示各藥材中之微生物含量有很大的差異，所需之輻射滅菌劑量亦因藥材不同而有顯著差異。受測中藥材除珍珠粉因含有一高輻射抗性菌株，需25∼27.5 kGy照射劑量照射才能達完全無菌，甘草、黃芩、枸杞與桂枝需15 kGy以上之照射劑量才能達完全滅菌外，10 kGy之加馬射線照射對其餘之33種受測中藥材均具有良好的滅菌效果。且照射前、後中藥材之成份分析及官能品評結果顯示無顯著差異。輻射照射應是中藥材之有效滅菌貯存方法。本計畫將由高經濟價值之中藥材中選擇神麴、連翹、酸棗仁、鬱金、霍山石斛、蒼朮、冬蟲夏草及黃精8種進行輻射滅菌研究。尋找最適輻射滅菌劑量，進行照射後不同貯存期之微生物含量測定，對接受最適滅菌劑量處理之中藥材樣品進行照射前、後組成份分析。以了解各藥材所需之輻射滅菌劑量，及評估中藥材經照射後之成份變化，確認最佳照射劑量等條件，提供企業界中藥材加馬線照射之方法及行政單位研訂中藥材加馬射線滅菌、及微生物污染含量等品質管制法規之參考，以開發輻射滅菌之中藥材市場，確保服用者之安全，提高中藥材之經濟效益。
關鍵字：中藥材；加馬線照射；微生物

Effects of Gamma Irradiation on Microbial Decontamination and Compositions of Chinese Medicine Herbs

F. I. Chou
Nuclear Science and Technology Development Center, National Tsing Hua University
Because Chinese medicine herbs (CMHs) originate from different locations, there is a wide diversity in the microbiological quality. Microbe growth will decrease the quality and may produce toxin in CMHs. In this project, methods of gamma irradiation will be studied, the suitable storage condition for CMHs will be set up. Thus, a reference will be provided to the Committee on Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Heath for set up the regulations for governing CMHs. The effects of gamma irradiation on microbial contamination of 38 species of CMHs and 5 kinds of Chinese medical prescriptions have been studied in our previous research. It showed that there are a great diversity for the species and amount of microbes in the CMHs and Chinese medical prescriptions. Amoung this 38 species of CMHs, Margarita powder, due to the presence of a bacteria strain with high radiation resistance, a dose between 25 ~ 27.5 kGy was necessary to obtain complete sterilization. Glycyrrhizae Radix, Scutellariae Radix, Lycii Fructus and Cinnamomi Ramulus have larger amount of microbes and the gamma irradiated dose needed higher than 15kGy. For the left 33 species of CMHs, 10 kGy was the gamma dose for microbe decontamination. Components analysis showed that there was no notable difference between the irradiated and untreated CMHs and Chinese medical prescriptions.
關鍵字：Chinese medicine herbs；gamma irradiation；microorganisms