The assessment of carbendazim, cyazofamid, diethofencarb and pyrimethanil residue levels in P-ginseng (CA!Meyer) by HPLC

A fast and simple high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the simultaneous determination of four pesticides having fungicide properties has been proposed for Panax ginseng, C. A. Meyer grown for 4, 5, or 6 years. Analytical separation was performed on C-18 columns using ultraviolet detector under gradient conditions. Spiked blank samples were used as standards to counteract the matrix effect observed in the chromatographic determination. The HPLC response for all pesticides was linear, with determination coefficients > 0.9986. The average rate of recovery for pesticides spiked with 2 fortification levels was > 72% with relative standard deviations < 9%. The limits of quantification (LOQ) ranged from 0.03 to 0.16 ppm. These LOQs were lower than the respective maximum residue limits (MRL) established by the Korean Food and Drug Administration (KFDA), except for cyazofamid. The proposed method was used to determine pesticide residue levels in samples of ginseng obtained from Jeonnam Province (Republic of Korea). None of the pesticides were found in ginseng samples grown for 4, 5, or 6 years.