Determination of Organophosphorus Pesticide present in Herbal Products using QuEChERS Method

Introduction

With ever increasing use of herbal medical and global expansion of herbal medicines market ,safety has become a major concern for both health authorities. From time to time ,undesirable and/or undeclared substances have been present or been purported in herbal medicines or medicinal plants in many parts of the world. These substances may include pesticides, radioactive substances, microbes etc. The quality of herbal medicines has direct impact on their safety and efficacy. There are many control measures for the herbal medicines the first important step is to control the quality of medicinal plants and herbal materials. It is well known that there are many contaminants and residues that may cause harm to the consumer. For this reason there is potential global danger to health and well being of people. This risk can be reduced by ensuring that herbal medicines with harmful contaminants and residues does not reach public, by assessing the quality of medicinal plants, herbal materials and finished herbal products before they reach the market. This application note demonstrates the analysis of herbal products for presence of residual pesticides such as Organophosphorus (OP) pesticides. These pesticides may be used as insecticides, fungicides or herbicides during growth, transportation and storage stages. A number of methods exist for the extraction and analysis of residual pesticides from different matrices. In this note we have used a simple extraction method known as “QuEChERS” (Quick, Easy Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe)method. This method employs Dispersive Solid Phase Extraction (dSPE) and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer (GCMS).

December 18, 2019 GMT