title: Biological importance of structurally diversified chromenes.
abstract: Compounds incorporating the chromene scaffold are largely present in natural products and display a wide variety of biological activities. Their low toxicity combined to the broad pharmacological properties have inspired medicinal chemists in the search for new therapeutic agents. This review covers the literature between 1993 and on the biological activity of 2H- and 4H-chromenes, both from natural and synthetic origin. Includes a section that identifies a selection of chromene-based natural products, followed by recent literature on bioactive natural chromenes and the corresponding source, covering plants and fruits. Synthetic chromenes are equally important and a separate section addresses the use of these derivatives as new leads for drug discovery. Different biological targets were identified, namely those associated with anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic and antipsychotic activities.
authors: Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal.
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Costa
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, Braga, Portugal.
authors: Tatiana A
authors: TA
authors: Dias
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, Braga, Portugal.
authors: Alexandra
authors: A
authors: Brito
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, Braga, Portugal. Electronic address: fproenca@quimica.uminho.pt.
authors: Fernanda
authors: F
authors: Proença
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001578:Benzopyrans / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D001578:Benzopyrans; D001688:Biological Products
keywords: Biological activity; Chromene; Natural products; Synthetic analogues