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11 new diterpenoids determined by NMR, X-ray diffraction, calculated ECD and CD exciton chirality methods were isolated from Flickingeria fimbriata.

The advancement of biodiesel production emphasizes the finding of new, low-cost, and plentiful raw materials. Insects, as one of the most plentiful biological resources worldwide, could be potential candidates for biodiesel production. In this study, Zophobas morio (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) was evaluated as an insect feedstock, attempting to prove the feasibility of producing qualified biodiesel. The oil content in dried Z. morio larvae was found to be 33.80 wt %. Biodiesel from Z. morio larva oil was prepared by acid esterification followed by alkaline transesterification. The parameters of the reaction were optimized at 1.25 wt % potassium hydroxide catalyst, a 5:1 methanol to oil ratio, a reaction temperature of 50°C, and a reaction time of 45 min. Under these conditions, the maximum fatty acid methyl ester yield was 92.35 wt %. The biodiesel obtained was verified to be in compliance with the ASTM D6751 standard. This study supports the use of Z. morio larva oil as a viable and valuable raw feedstock for biodiesel production and indicates the potential use of insects as feedstock for applications in energy production.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of an ethanolic extract of Chloranthus japonicus led to the isolation of the known lindenane-type sesquiterpenoid chlojaponilactone B (1). This compound exhibited pronounced inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. Further anti-inflammatory assays showed that 1 suppressed the levels of some key inflammation mediators, such as iNOS, TNF-α, and IL-6, in a dose-dependent manner, and reduced the ear thickness and neutrophil infiltration in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-stimulated mice. A mechanistic study revealed that compound 1 exerted its anti-inflammatory effects via the suppression of the NF-κB signaling pathway, which inhibited NF-κB-dependent transcriptional activity, IκBα phosphorylation, and p65 nuclear translocation. In contrast, chlojaponilactone B (1) was found to exert little influence on the MAPK signaling pathway.

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