ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To develop a GC-MS/MS method for the determination of the residues of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Chinese herbal medicines. METHODS: Using isotope as internal standard, the sample was extracted by ethyl acetate and purified by solid phase extraction on C18 cartridges. GC-MS/MS method was used for the assay, with analyte protectants added to counteract the matrix effect. The chromatographic column was DB-5ms(0.25 mm × 30 m, 0.25 μm) with temperature programming and MRM detection. RESULTS: The calibration curves for the 16 kinds of typical PAHs were linear in the range of 1 - 100 ng · mL-1. The average recovery rate was 88.53% - 119.03% in the range of 1 -25 μg · kg-1 with RSDs of 1.25% - 14.70% (n = 3). The LOQs were 0.2 - 1 μg · kg-1. CONCLUSION: This method is specific, sensitive, accurate and can be used for residue detection of 16 typical kinds of PAHs in Chinese herbal medicines.