Removal of pesticides from strawberries using plant extracts and assessed by gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

The extensive application of pesticides on fruits and vegetables during cultivation leads to potential risk to the environment and human health. The pesticide decontamination in fruits and vegetables is an essential step in food safety. In this study, the extracts ofTamarindus indica(TIE) andAzadirachta indica(AIE) were investigated for its effect on the removal of synthetic pyrethroids and organophosphate pesticides in strawberries. The pesticide removal was done by washing the contaminated strawberries with TIE and AIE at various concentrations (2%, 4%, 6% and 8%) with three different soaking times (5, 10 and 15 min). The pesticide residues in strawberries were quantified by the modified QuEChERS extraction method followed by gas chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). The method validation for determination of five pesticide residues in strawberry has been done in accordance with European Union guidelines. In method validation, the recovery values obtained for three fortification levels were found to be 75% to 95%. The analytical results showed that the higher removal level was obtained for malathion (67%) followed by dimethoate (66%), cypermethrin (64%), chlorpyrifos (64%) and deltamethrin (62%) during washing with 6% TIE for 15 min. The nutritional properties of strawberries were not significantly changed during washing with TIE and AIE. The current study showed the potential application of plant extracts for the removal of pesticides from fruits that leads to consumer protection from the health risk of pesticides by reducing its dietary exposure.