Identification and Quantitation of the Six Active Compounds in a Pyrethrin Standard

Abstract

Six biologically active insecticidal compounds in pyrethrum extract - pyrethrin I (Py I), jasmolin I (J I), cinerin I (C I), pyrethrin II (Py II), jasmolin II (J II), and cinerin II (C II) - have been identified and quantitated using a procedure combining the modified version of the AOAC mercury reduction Method 936.05 and capillary gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID), GC with mass selective detection, and GC with infrared detection. This method involves hydrolysis of pyrethrum extract and subsequent measurement of monocarboxylic and dicarboxylic acids. Mass and infrared spectra are used to identify the 6 active compounds, and GC-FID is used to determine their purities. The use of this characterized standard is limited to a proposed capillary GC AOAC method that quantitates N-octyl bicycloheptene dicarboximide (MGK264), pyrethrin, and butylcarbityl 6-propylpiperonyl ether (BPE) in technical materials, concentrates, and certain finished products.