International Science Community Association Research Journal of Recent Sciences 15 3 2026 07 2 Microbial safety evaluation of Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. Fruit raw material: Bacterial diversity, Fungal incidence and Ergosterol analysis 42 46 EN Sahu Suresh 1 Government Engineering College, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India Kumar Vinod 1 NTPC Energy Technology Research Alliance (NETRA), Plot No. E-3, Ecotech-II, Udyog Vihar, Greater Noida -201306, Uttar Pradesh, India Aggarwal Akanksha 2 NTPC Energy Technology Research Alliance (NETRA), Plot No. E-3, Ecotech-II, Udyog Vihar, Greater Noida -201306, Uttar Pradesh, India Kulshershtha Amit 3 NTPC Energy Technology Research Alliance (NETRA), Plot No. E-3, Ecotech-II, Udyog Vihar, Greater Noida -201306, Uttar Pradesh, India Kumar Manish 4 NTPC Energy Technology Research Alliance (NETRA), Plot No. E-3, Ecotech-II, Udyog Vihar, Greater Noida -201306, Uttar Pradesh, India Kumar Shanta 5 NTPC Energy Technology Research Alliance (NETRA), Plot No. E-3, Ecotech-II, Udyog Vihar, Greater Noida -201306, Uttar Pradesh, India Tripathi Raj Kumar 6 NTPC Energy Technology Research Alliance (NETRA), Plot No. E-3, Ecotech-II, Udyog Vihar, Greater Noida -201306, Uttar Pradesh, India Saini Yashwant Kumar 7 NTPC Energy Technology Research Alliance (NETRA), Plot No. E-3, Ecotech-II, Udyog Vihar, Greater Noida -201306, Uttar Pradesh, India Gupta Shyam Manohar 8 NTPC Energy Technology Research Alliance (NETRA), Plot No. E-3, Ecotech-II, Udyog Vihar, Greater Noida -201306, Uttar Pradesh, India Ram Anshu Beulah 1 Department of Biotechnology, Nrupathunga University, Nrupathunga Road, Bangalore, Karnataka 560001, India Kour Gurshish 2 Clinical Microbiology Division, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR), Canal Road, Jammu 180 001, India P. Priya 1 Department of PG studies in Biotechnology, Nrupathunga University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India P.R. Druthi 2 Department of PG studies in Biotechnology, Nrupathunga University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India M. Jeevitha 3 Department of PG studies in Biotechnology, Nrupathunga University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India Kabhade Sarina P. 4 Department of PG studies in Biotechnology, Nrupathunga University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India Stella Bhupanapadu Sunkesula Mary 5 Insearch Laboratory, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India M. Jeevitha 1 Department of Biotechnology, Nrupathunga University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India P.R. Druthi 2 Department of Biotechnology, Nrupathunga University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India P. Priya 3 Department of Biotechnology, Nrupathunga University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India Kabhade Sarina P 4 Department of Biotechnology, Nrupathunga University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India Stella Bhupanapadu Sunkesula Mary 5 Insearch Laboratory, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India P. Rajeshwari 1 Government Science College, Chitradurga, Karnataka, India Raveesha K.A. 2 Life Sciences, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research (JSSAHER) Mysuru, Karnataka, India > Research Paper 2026 4 10 2026 07 2 The microbiological safety of crude herbal drugs significantly influences the safety, efficacy and shelf life of herbal formulations. Terminalia bellirica (Combretaceae), an important medicinal fruit and a key component of Triphala, is widely used in traditional medicine and nutraceutical preparations. The present investigation aimed to evaluate the microbial status of T. bellirica fruits collected from retail herbal markets of Mysuru, Karnataka. Microbial enumeration was carried out using the serial dilution technique, followed by isolation and characterization of bacterial and fungal contaminants. Detection of indicator pathogens such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella was performed using selective media and biochemical tests. Fungal contamination was further confirmed by estimation of ergosterol using TLC and LCMS methods. Results revealed substantial microbial contamination with average bacterial and fungal loads of 1.66×10⁷ CFU/g and 1.55×10⁵ CFU/g, respectively. A total of 27 morphologically distinct bacterial isolates were obtained, of which 70% were Gram-positive. Six out of eighteen samples were contaminated with E. coli. Nineteen fungal species belonging to ten genera were identified, with Aspergillusniger and A. flavus as predominant contaminants. Ergosterol(184.49 µg/kg) was detected in 15 samples, confirming potential fungal incidence. The study highlights the need for stringent microbial quality control measures for T. bellirica fruit raw materials used in herbal drug formulations. Copyright@ International Science Community Association