Abstract
In this study, an analytical method was developed for the rapid determination of 21 pesticides used in ginseng cultivation. All pesticides covered by this method have been registered by 2020 in China for use on ginseng. The extracts were cleaned up using zirconium-oxide-modified silica (Z-Sep) and primary secondary amine (PSA). The combination of Z-Sep and PSA provided good recovery for all analytes and the cleanest matrix background out of a number of PSA-based sorbent combinations, as indicated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC). Instrumental analysis was completed in 5 min using the ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The linearity (r > 0.99) for all analytes was satisfactory over the calibration range of 0.002–0.1 μg mL−1. Intraday recoveries (n = 5) at ginseng-spiked levels of 0.02, 0.05, 0.1, and 1 mg kg−1 ranged between 72% and 119%, with the corresponding relative standard deviations (RSDs), were less than 19%, while the interday recoveries (n = 15) ranged between 77% and 103%, and RSDs were less than 22%. Limits of quantitation (LOQs) ranged between 0.02 and 0.05 mg kg−1 for all 21 pesticides. This is a seminal study using Z-Sep for the efficient cleanup of ginseng samples, and it could present a practical method for future monitoring of pesticide residues in ginseng produced in China.
Highlights
Ginseng refers to the dried root of Panax ginseng C
We developed and validated a rapid multiresidue method for the simultaneous determination of 21 pesticides in ginseng using the ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS)
All the compounds that we tested are registered pesticides for use in ginseng cultivation in China. e sample was cleaned up using Z-Sep following QuEChERS ACN salt-out extraction; UHPLC-MS/MS analysis took only 5 min. is method provides efficient sample purification and is suitable for the rapid determination of pesticide residues in ginseng produced in China
Summary
Ginseng refers to the dried root of Panax ginseng C. E active components in ginseng, ginsenosides, exhibit antioxidant and antitumor properties [1]. Ginseng is rich in polysaccharides and amino acids [2], making it a valuable dietary supplement. Ginseng plants are prone to diseases such as blight, gray mold, and black spots as well as underground pests such as wire- and cutworms. Us, it is necessary to apply pesticides during the cultivation of ginseng [3]. Panax ginseng is a perennial plant and needs to grow for at least three years before the roots are ready for harvesting and further commercialization. Agricultural pesticides may remain in the soil for a long time, and the roots of perennial plants are at risk of repeated contamination
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