Fang Wang

As a natural product, the structure of ferulic acid (FA) possesses a highly modifiable structure, making it an attractive lead scaffold in agrochemical discovery. FA derivatives display broad biological activities when the FA backbone is conjugated with active fragments such as amide, acyl hydrazone, piperazine, and quinazolinone. However, the field currently suffers from a critical gap: although numerous FA derivatives with promising bioactivity have been reported, the structure–activity relationships (SARs) governing these activities remain poorly systematized, and the underlying mechanistic rationale is rarely articulated. This review departs from a conventional compound‐by‐compound survey. Instead, we critically dissect the SAR of FA derivatives across antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, herbicidal, and insecticidal activities, with emphasis on why specific structural modifications translate into activity gains, in the hope of providing a reference for the subsequent research and development of new pesticides based on FA.

As tiletamine emerges as a ketamine substitute, its detection in complex human matrices such as wastewater and hair remains challenging owing to the lack of specific biomarkers and targeted methods. This research addresses this gap by systematically identifying novel metabolites that can serve as definitive markers. Using ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–high‐resolution mass spectrometry four metabolites (MeT1–MeT4) were characterized from in vitro and authentic samples, three of which (MeT2‐MeT4) are newly identified. Subsequent targeted screening of 469 clinical samples (433 hair and 36 urine samples) using a validated high‐performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry method revealed a distinct exposure profile: 33 hair samples were positive for tiletamine, with a consistent metabolite abundance order of MeT2 > MeT3 > MeT1 > MeT4. The parent compound was undetectable in urine and the possible metabolite MeT4 was present in only one urine sample, which corresponded to a hair sample positive for tiletamine. Overall, these findings underscore the necessity of monitoring metabolites. Given its high relative abundance, MeT2 is proposed as a robust and characteristic biomarker providing a critical reference for future wastewater‐based epidemiology and forensic hair testing for tiletamine.

During a survey of saprobic fungi in karst landscapes of Guizhou Province, China, fresh specimens were collected from decaying wood in terrestrial habitats. Phylogenetic analyses of a combined dataset (ITS, LSU, tef 1-α and rpb 2) along with morphological characteristics support the introduction of two novel species, Camporesiomyces qizhifengensis and C. yusheensis . Detailed descriptions, illustrations and phylogenetic evidence are provided to substantiate their taxonomic placement. Additionally, a checklist of currently accepted Camporesiomyces species supported by molecular data is included. This is the first report of Camporesiomyces in Guizhou, adding to the regional biodiversity of karst habitats and highlighting the ecological importance of these unique environments. The findings underscore the need for continued exploration of fungal diversity in underexplored regions.

During a survey of saprobic fungi, fresh specimens were collected from decaying wood in terrestrial habitats in Guizhou and Hainan provinces, southern China. Two novel species, Helicosporium qixianlingense and H. tongrenense , are introduced based on phylogenetic analyses of a combined dataset (ITS, LSU, tef 1-α, and rpb 2) and morphological evidence. Comprehensive descriptions, illustrations, notes, and phylogenetic analyses supporting the taxonomic placement of these new taxa are provided. These findings are significant for exploring the species diversity of Helicosporium in southern China.

With the regulation of etomidate (ETO), criminals continue to use chemical modifications to derive various ETO analogues as substitutes to enter the illegal market in order to evade punishment, and the phenomenon of substitution abuse is becoming increasingly serious. After these substitutes are ingested by the human body, the prototype drug is almost undetectable in the biological samples. It is necessary to search for “characteristic” metabolite traceability prototype drugs to effectively prevent misjudgment of cases. The fragmentation patterns and metabolites of seven ETO analogs were analyzed by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS) and liquid chromatography tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) using an in vitro metabolic model of human liver microsomes. These seven compounds undergo I-phase metabolites, including imidazole ring disconnection from alkyl groups, benzene ring and alkyl group interactions, dealkylation, and so on. The parent compounds propoxate and sec-butomidate were not detected in the actual 83 hair and 4 urine samples tested; ETO and isopropoxate were the two main drugs detected in hair samples; and CF3-etomidate, a novel alternative, was detected in hair at a higher rate than metomidate. In addition, 47 hair samples showed a single parent substance, and 35 samples contained two or more drugs, indicating the possibility of mixed use of ETO and its analogues. The biomarkers of metomidate in both urine and hair are hydroxylated metabolites on the benzene ring; the biomarkers of isopropoxate undergo a hydroxylation reaction on the benzene ring (hair) and cleavage of the C–N bond between the imidazole ring and alkyl group (urine); the metabolic product of the hydroxylation reaction on alkyl groups is a biomarker of butomidate. In this study, the metabolite differences of seven ETO analogs were compared for the first time in order to infer the parent compounds based on biomarkers. Meanwhile, based on the existing knowledge of the metabolism of the seven known substances in this experiment, it is possible to make a preliminary prediction of emerging ETO analogs in order to improve the understanding of early warning systems and the timely updating of monitoring techniques.

The abuse of new psychoactive substances and narcotic drugs as drug substitutes poses a serious threat to public health and safety. This study outlines the effective use and negative abuse of drug substitutes and outlines associated criminal behaviors to help readers understand the potential risks of such substances. By summarizing the technical bottlenecks in the analysis and detection of criminal cases, this study highlights their impact on case discrimination, which in turn can limit or even render policy implementation ineffective. Finally, based on database analysis and the current regulatory system, flexible control strategies were proposed to address the constantly emerging “new” substances, providing a reference for relevant control guidelines to be formulated.

Coumarin derivatives containing benzene sulfonate were designed and synthesized. Their anti-Xac, anti-Xoc and anti-Psa activities were studied systematically. It was found that these compounds had certain antibacterial activity against all three species of bacteria. Among them, 4-{[(6-nitro-2-oxo-2H-chromen-4-yl)amino]methyl}phenyl-3-chloro-2-fluorobenzenesulfonate had the best inhibitory activity against Xoc, with an EC₅₀ value of 52.2 mg/L. The effect of this compound on the morphology and membrane of Xoc was studied by SEM and CM. It was found that this compound can affect the normal growth and development of Xoc.

A series of 2-aminothiazole derivatives (3A1–3A30) containing 9-alkyl purine moiety were designed and synthesized to explore novel antibacterial agents with unique structures and potent antibacterial activity. The structures of target compounds were characterized using ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and HRMS techniques. The structure of compound 3A12 was further elucidated through single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Results from antibacterial activity tests indicated that compound 3A7 exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc), with an EC₅₀ (half-maximal effective concentration) value of 25.5 μg/mL, which was more than three times higher than that of the control agent thiodiazole copper (EC₅₀ = 78.4 μg/mL). Compound 3A25 has a strong inhibitory effect on Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citric (Xac), with significantly higher activity than thiodiazole copper in terms of EC₅₀ value (47.3 vs 92.1 µg/mL). Additionally, the EC₅₀ value of compound 3A7 against Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) was measured at 57.5 µg/mL, demonstrating superior efficacy relative to the control agents bismerthiazol (EC₅₀ = 92.9 µg/mL) and thiodiazole copper (EC₅₀ = 90.2 µg/mL). The antibacterial mechanism of compound 3A7 was examined through an investigation into the production of exopolysaccharides, alterations in membrane permeability, morphological changes in bacterial cells, and the development of a molecular docking model. Through a 100 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, the stability of the binding between compound 3A7 and the AvrRxo1-ORF1 protein was confirmed. Furthermore, the chemical reactivity of potential bioactive compounds was evaluated using density functional theory (DFT).