Abstract
We investigated the residual contents of sulfur dioxide ($SO_2$) on the 280 kinds of herbal medicines distributed at 8 cities including in Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Jecheon, Yeongju, Geumsan and Jeonju in Korea. The residual contents of $SO_2$ were determinated by modified Monier-Williams method. The residual contents of $SO_2$ were not detected at 206 products in total 280 products. However, it was detected below 100 ppm in 39 products, between 101 and 1000 ppm in 30 products and exceeded 1000 ppm in 5 products. $SO_2$ contents ranged 11 ${\sim}$ 2339 mg/kg (mean 293 mg/kg) at domestic samples distributed. Regardless of region, $SO_2$ contents were not found at Notopterygii Rhizoma, Ligustici Scinensis Rhizoma et Radix, Bombyx Batryticatus, Coicis Semen, Cnidii Rhizoma, Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, Gardeniae Fructus, Alismatis Rhizoma. But it's found at Batatatis Rhizoma, Paeoniae Radix and Codonopsitis Radix of every region collected the samples. $SO_2$ contents were not detected at 58 products which collected cultural fields of dometic. After treated with water wash and hot water extraction, the reduction rates of sulfur dioxide were appeared with 14.3% ${\sim}$ 40.4% and 55.2% ${\sim}$ 100.0%, respectively. These data will be used to establish a criteron of residual sulfur dioxide in herbal medicines.
