Analysis of Fungicide Prochloraz in Platycodi Radix by GC-ECD

BACKGROUND: Prochloraz has been widely used as an imidazole fungicide on fruits and vegetables in Korea. Analytical approaches to evaluate prochloraz residues in herbal medicine are required for their safety management. In this study, we developed a GC-ECD method for quantitative determination of prochloraz in Platycodi Radix. The metabolite 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-T) was used as a target compound to evaluate total prochloraz residues as it is categorized to a representative residue definition of prochloraz. All residues containing 2,4,6-T were converted to 2,4,6-T and subjected to GC-ECD. METHODS AND RESULTS: In order to verify the applicability, the method was optimized for determining prochloraz and it metabolite 2,4,6-T in Platycodi Radix. Prochloraz and its metabolite 2,4,6-T residuals were extracted using acetone. The extract was diluted with and partitioned directly into dichloromethane to remove polar co-extractives in the aqueous phase. The extract was decomposed to 2,4,6-T, and then the partitioned ion-associate was finally purified by optimized aminopropyl solid-phase extraction (SPE). The limits of quantitation of the method (MLOQs) were 0.04 mg/kg and 0.02 mg/kg, respectively for prochloraz and 2,4,6-T, considering the maximum residue level (MRL) of prochloraz as 0.05 mg/kg in Platycodi Radix. Recovery tests were carried out at two levels of concentration (MLOQ, 10 MLOQ) and resulted in good recoveries (82.1-89.7%). Good reproducibilities were obtained (coefficient of variation < 2.8%), and the linearities of calibration curves were reasonable (r2 > 0.9986) in the range of 0.005-0.5 μg/mL. CONCLUSION(S): The method developed in this study was successfully validated to meet the guidelines required for quantitative determination of pesticides in herbal medicine. Thus, the method could be useful to monitor prochloraz institutionally in herbal medicine.