Investigation of Pesticides Residues in Some Medicinal Plants Collected from Local Markets in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Pesticides residues were estimated in some commonly used medicinal plants collected from different markets in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia ,these are; (Rosemary; Rosmarinus officinals L. & Sage; Salvia officinals L.), family Lamiaceae, (Anise; Pimpinella anisum L., Caraway, Carum carvi L. & Cumin; Cuminum cyminum L.) family Apiaceae, (Cinnamon; Cinnamomum verum L.) family Lauraceae, (Ginger; Zingiber officinale Roscoe. ) family Zingiberaceae and (Tea ; Camellia sinensis L.) family Theaceae. It was found thatMalathion,Pirimiphos-methyl and profenofos predominated in most all investigated samples while fungicides were detected only in Cumin and Caraway samples in the form of azole compounds .(tebuconazole, propiconazole, flusilazole, difenoconazole) carbamate compounds (carbendazim) and other fungicides(iprodione, azoxystrobin, metalaxyl, flusilazole, thiophanate-methyl,ticyclazole, kresoxim-methyl and pendimethalin). Insecticides were dominated in Cumin, Caraway, Anise, Rosemary, Tea and Sage samples and mainly organophosphates (malathion, chlorpyrifos, profenofos, pirimiphos-methyl, ethion. The Ginger samples were free from pesticides while Cinnamon samples showed only the chloropyrifos <LOQ But in Anise difenoconazoleit was only in <LOQ. The medicinal plants and natural herbs must be used after the application of safety experiments and safety tests. It is recommended that everycountry use medicinal plants and spices (collected from natural habitats or cultivated) should have at least one control laboratory capable of performing the determination of pesticides residues and give a license for safety to be used in safe manner.