Monitoring of Pesticide Residues in Dried Medicinal Plants used for Food Materials

This study was performed to investigate the pesticide residue of commercial medicinal plants used for food materials in the Seoul area. Multi class pesticide multiresidue methods in Korea Food Code was used to ana- lyze 100 pesticides. Analyzed samples were 261 cases(domestic 201, imported 60), detection rate was 19.2%(domes- tic 20.9%, imports 13.3%). 17 pesticides were detected in fruit(chinese matrimony vine, jujube, rubus coreanus, japanese cornlian cherry, schizandra, tangerine peel), and root(cnidium, licorice, astragalus). Pesticide over Maximum Residue Limits were detected in jujube, cnidium. Frequently detected pesticides were cypermethrin, chlorpyrifos, cyhalothrin, fenvalerate, bifenthrin. More than 50% of the sample were detected two or more pesticides at the same time. Because of the variety and increase of pesticide detection in medicinal roots and fruits, continued monitoring and safety management is required.