The determination of the level, source, and risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content in traditional Chinese medicines using a QuEChERS based extraction and HPLC-UV-FLD analysis

Abstract

A rapid and highly sensitive modified QuEChERS method was combined with high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet fluorescence detection (HPLC-UV-FLD) to determine and evaluate sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in 74 traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). A sample-based QuEChERS method pretreatment technology was used to improve sensitivity and selectivity through decolorization and purification in five different medicinal parts of plant TCMs. The limits of detection (LODs) ranged from 0.03 to 0.60 μg/kg in dry TCMs. All linearity coefficients (r²) for PAHs exceeded 0.999 within the linear range from 0.1 to 1000 ng/mL. The spiked recoveries in five matrices were within the range 84.1–98.8%. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) ranged from 1.2% to 8.3%. Spiked recovery tests were done in five parts of dry matrices to conclusively validate the accuracy of the method. The total PAHs ranged from 1.4 to 156.0 μg/kg. Among the 16 PAHs, the detection rate of pyrene (Pyr) was generally the highest (33.3–66.7%), and the carcinogenic risk of benzo(a)anthracene (BaA) was as high as 14.2–61.1%. The characteristic ratio analysis indicated that petroleum, coal, and biomass combustion were primary sources of PAHs in TCMs. The health risk of TCMs was evaluated using the carcinogenic toxicity contribution rate analysis.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Carcinogenic risk
• high performance liquid chromatography
• polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
• QuEChERS
• traditional Chinese medicines

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by Jiangsu Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Development Plan Project [No. YB2020068], “13th Five Year Plan” China Nantong Key Laboratory of Health Emergency of Science and Education [No. S17], and the program from Nantong Health Committee research project [No. WKZL2018084]