Natural products have been used as major sources of therapeutic agents in
drug discovery since the ancient eras. Natural products have been widely studied in the
physical and biological sciences, including nutrition, health, bio-medical, and other
interrelated sciences. Because of their unique chemical diversity and bioactivity, they
have continued to offer templates for the development of novel forms of drugs. In the
field of traditional medicine, natural products have been used for a very long time in
the form of decoctions, medicinal extracts, infusions, or other therapeutic preparations.
Chromene is one of the essential chemical constituents, derived from the conversion of
multiple biosynthetic pathways present in the plant as well as animal kingdoms, which
represents a remarkable group of structurally varied secondary metabolites. The
scaffold is considered an important class of oxygenated heterocyclic compounds as two
forms of 2H/4H-chromene (2H/4H-Ch) with versatile biological profiles. Chromenes
are the basic backbone of various polyphenols, alkaloids, tocopherols, anthocyanins,
etc. Crotin, Crotaramine, Dysoline, Malachromone, Oxalicumones A-C, Khellin,
Baicalin, Diosmin, etc. are some examples of naturally isolated chromene fused
compounds that are reported for the treatment of diverse health ailments. Their unique
structure and varied pharmacological activities may provide new leads for the
discovery of drugs with their action. In recent years, the need to develop effective and
selective methods for the extraction and isolation of new natural products has been
increasingly felt. This chapter presents the extraction, isolation, and characterization
processes of the chromenes by the natural sources, illumination of the structures of
purified chromenes, and their bioactivity.
Keywords: Chemical constituent, Chromene, Isolation, Natural product, Plant extract.
