Residues measurement of common insecticides in Berberis vulgaris by gas chromatography in Iran

Different pesticides have been used to control pests of barberry (Berberis vulgaris) in south Khorasan province, Iran. Due to use barberry in both raw and cooked, identification and quantification of residues of common pesticides (Diazinon, Oxydemeton-methyl and Phosalone) in barberry was monitored by using GC-MS. To achieve a suitable method for extraction and purification, four valid methods such as QuEChERS Extraction, Static extraction, Changing PH and Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) were used. To reduce matrix effects in measurements, the addition standard used and the resulting signal level from GC by using pesticides standards calibration curves were measured. Extraction with acetonitrile solvent and scan mode of GC-MS showed that most of the barberries were contaminated by the pesticides. Four kind of different extraction method were compared with each other in spiked distilled water and then spiked barberry samples. The SPE extraction seemed to give slightly lower recoveries for the sample tested. Although Changing PH and Static extraction were so quick, but had the worst results. The results obtained confirmed that QuEChERS Extraction method may be used to extract pesticide residues from barberry. Other pesticides also found with a very low concentration by GCMS full scan method, such as Dimethoate, Dursban & Acetamyprid, that may has been used in the region and came as drift.