To understand the current research status and existing problems of pesticide residues in Chinese traditional medicines (CTM)

collect and analyze the literatures on the types of pesticides commonly used in CTM

detection and analysis technologies of pesticide residues and removing technologies for pesticide residues

and provide scientific foundations and theoretical basis for removing pesticide residues in CTM in condition of keeping the material shape and effective components. On the basis of checking out recent published literatures on pesticide residues in CTM both home and abroad

we reviewed the current types of pesticides commonly used in CTM as well as the detection and analysis technologies of pesticide residues

with emphasis on existing removing technologies for pesticide residues

and introduced the new removal technique

subcritical dry-cleaning technology in detail

which can remove the pesticide residues without destroying the shape of the material. Currently

the organochlorine

organophosphor and pyrethroid were the main pesticide residues in CTM. The detection and analysis methods primarily included gas chromatography (GC) testing

liquid chromatography (LC) testing or one of them combined with mass spectrometry (MS). The removing technologies for pesticide residues in CTM mainly relied on physical removing methods-water washing method

processing method

chemical oxidation method and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) method which was popular recently. Up to now

the research on subcritical fluid extraction method for removing pesticide residues has made some progress

but subcritical dry-cleaning technology which can remove pesticide residues attached to the surface of CTM in the condition of keeping the material shape and active ingredient is still lacking of deep research because it is a relative new technique. The further study of pesticide residues in CTM

especially on subcritical dry-cleaning on removing pesticide residues of CTM will be conducive to the development of new removing technologies and solving the problems of pesticide residues in CTM.