Analysis of 28 insecticides in curry leaves (Murraya koenigii L.) by gas chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

ABSTRACT

A simple and efficient method was developed for analysis of 28 insecticides (organochlorines, organophosphates and synthetic pyrethroids) in curry leaves (Murraya koenigii L.). The extraction of the analytes was carried out with acidified acetonitrile and purification with magnesium sulphate, primary secondary amine along with graphitised carbon black to remove excess chlorophyll content in curry leaves. Acetonitrile extracts were changed into hexane + acetone (9 + 1) and hexane + toluene (9 + 1) in the final step. In another method ethyl acetate was used for extraction and purification was carried out as above. The analytes in the samples were determined by gas chromatography (GC) and confirmed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Use of ethyl acetate increased the recovery of the analytes, but co-extractive interference led to higher GC maintenance. Acidified acetonitrile was found to be a better extraction solvent compared with ethyl acetate. The use of hexane:toluene (9:1) as exchange solvent increased the recovery of organochlorine insecticides compared with hexane:acetone (9:1). The limit of quantification (LOQ) of the method was 0.01 mg kg⁻¹ for organochlorine insecticides and 0.05 mg kg⁻¹ for organophosphates and synthetic pyrethroids. The recoveries of organochlorines were within 70.36–82.45%; organophosphates, 82.54–90.93% and synthetic pyrethroids, 88.45–90.71% at the LOQ level. The method developed was found suitable for analysis of real samples of curry leaves. The pesticides detected in curry leaves collected from the retail market were mainly organophosphates and synthetic pyrethroids.

KEYWORDS:

• Curry leaves
• gas chromatography
• gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
• insecticides
• method validation

Acknowledgements

The author thanks the Director, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bangalore and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi for sponsoring the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The author thanks the Director,  Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bangalore and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi for sponsoring the study.