Effective removal of organophosphorus pesticide residues in tomatoes using natural extracts

Abstract

AbstractThe reduction efficiency of the extracts of Albizia amara and Acacia concinna against most widely used organophosphorus pesticides such as dimethoate, malathion, dichlorvos, and chlorpyrifos on tomato samples was investigated. The pesticide residues were quantified by gas chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (GC‐MS/MS). The maximum reduction efficiency was achieved from the samples treated with 8% A. concinna extract on dichlorvos (87%) and dimethoate (84%) followed by 6% A. amara on malathion (83%) and chlorpyrifos (64%) and comparatively higher than water wash and it shows the reduction of only 14–38% for 15 min. The sensorial property and lycopene content of tomato samples were assessed and these plant extracts showed no significant effects on color, texture, and lycopene content after washing treatment. These phytochemical rich plant extracts exhibited greater reduction ability against pesticide residues without changing the nutritional and sensorial characteristics of the treated tomato samples. The current study may be a platform for formulating a cost‐effective, safe, and natural cleanser for the effective removal of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables.Practical applicationsPresence of multiple pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables is a worldwide problem in food safety. Particularly, tomatoes are most often consumed without cooking, hence it is essential to estimate the pesticide reduction efficiency of the common washing procedure. Washing of tomatoes with chemical solutions to remove pesticide residues leads to additional chemical exposure. Therefore, the reduction efficiency of natural plant extracts such as Albizia amara and Acacia concinna on four pesticides (dimethoate, malathion, dichlorvos, and chlorpyrifos) was studied. The method for the analysis of pesticide using GC‐MS/MS was validated according to SANTE 11813/2017 to detect the pesticide residues in tomatoes after each washing treatment. This study showed that the natural extracts could be a good tool for the removal of multipesticide residues effectively from the tomatoes without compromising its nutritional and sensory properties. The pesticide decontamination with plant extracts was effective, economic and safe for household and commercial applications.