ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine organochlorine pesticide residue in 9 Chinese herbs.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The organochlorine pesticides were extracted from the herbs with mixed solvents of n-hexane and acetone by a solid-phase extraction cartridge Florisil. Capillary gas chromatography was used to separate the samples.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Good linearities were obtained for 11 organochlorine pesticides. The average recoveries at two concentration levels ranged from 79.9% to 89.0%,and from 86.3% to 104.8%, with relative standard deviations of 1.8% to 7.1%, respectively and detection limit of 2 g/kg. The residues of the organic pesticides exceeded national standard in Pogostemon cablin and Panax notoginseng.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Capillary gas chromatography combined with electron capture detection provides a practical means for detecting organic pesticide residue in Chinese herbal medicines, and the limits of pesticide residues should be formulated in Chinese pharmacopoeia.</p>