Multi-residue Method for Determination of Selected Neonicotinoid Insecticides in Traditional Chinese Medicine Using Modified Dispersive Solid-phase Extraction Combined with Ultra-performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

A reliable and cost-effective method for the determination of multiple neonicotinoids was developed using a modified QuEChERS-based extraction procedure in complex matrices, namely Hedyotis diffusa (a representative of the Traditional Chinese herb which contains lots of pigment, saponin and terpene) and Semifluid extract of deer foetus (a representative of the Chinese traditional patent medicine that was produced with several different herbs, and especially containing lots of protein, except for other interference components). Ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was used for the quantification and confirmation of five compounds. Except for two transitions obtained by the MRM mode, identification was further carried out by the ion radios. The proposed chemical structure of every selected product ion and the proposed pyrolysis way were presented. The extraction, clean-up, UPLC separation and MS/MS parameters were especially optimized in order to obtain better recoveries. The low limits of detection (LODs) of five insecticides ranged from 0.04 to 0.81 μg kg -1 . Matrix matched calibration in the concentration range of 0.05 -50 μg kg -1 were used to compensate the matrix effect, and reasonable recoveries 80.2 -105.4% of five compounds were demonstrated in different spiked levels with inter-RSD from 1.7 to 10.6%. The proposed method is an alternative approach to make an analysis of neonicotinoids in Chinese medicine, which is more reliable and promising compared with other detection methods.

A Vortex-Assisted Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction Followed by UPLC-MS/MS for Simultaneous Determination of Pesticides and Aflatoxins in Herbal Tea

“…Many studies have reported methods for the detection of trace pesticides, which some pesticides have endocrine activity (EDCs) [21] in Chinese herbal medicines: liquid chromatography (LC) and gas chromatography (GC) [22,23], gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) [24] and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (tandem) mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS or HPLC-MS/MS) [25]. The methods for detecting mycotoxins such as aflatoxins in traditional Chinese medicine have enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) [26], HPLC [27] and LC-MS/MS [28].…”

Analysis of dietary exposure and risk assessment of pesticide residues in roots and rhizomes of Chinese herbs

“…The quality of MFH plants can be influenced by multiple factors, including soil conditions, ecological activity, and pesticide use (Huang et al, 2018;Qin et al, 2015;Ren et al, 2017). Due to the lack of a proper pesticide registration system for some MFH plants with small planting areas and/or low pesticide consumption, the number of MFH plants registered for pesticide use is currently insufficient in China.…”

Optimization and Selection of Mobile Phase for the Determination of Multiple Pesticide Standards Using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

“…Other instruments include gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) (29) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) (30). Unfortunately, the poor sensitivity of these instruments is their major setbacks.…”