HPLC, using superheated D
2O as the mobile phase,combined with on-line characterization via a combinationof diode array UV,
1H NMR, FT-IR spectroscopy, andmass spectrometry has been used for the analysis of astandard of 20-hydroxyecdysone- and ecdysteroid-containing plant extracts. This combination of spectrometersenabled the on-flow collection of UV,
1H NMR, IR, andmass spectra not only for pure 20-hydroxyecdysone(100-400
g on column) but also the major ecdysteroidspresent in crude extracts of
Silene otites,
Silene nutans,and
Silene frivaldiskyana. The ecdysteroids unequivocally identified in these extracts included 20-hydroxyecdysone, polypodine B, and integristerone A.