Chromenochalcones: a comprehensive review on developments towards a medicinal perspective

Chalcones are indeed a versatile scaffold in medicinal chemistry. Their structure, featuring an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl group, makes them highly reactive and capable of interacting with various biological targets. This reactivity is a key reason why chalcones and their derivatives are of such interest in drug discovery. The continued exploration of chalcone derivatives in medicinal chemistry will likely yield new insights and therapeutic candidates, given their broad spectrum of biological activities and the flexibility in modifying their structures. As chalcone derivatives, pyranochalcones and chromanchalcones are members of a subclass of flavonoids that are widely distributed. Several scientific databases were investigated to compile articles that illustrated the biological functions of chromenochalcones and their derivatives. Preclinical research on chromenochalcones and their derivatives is well covered in this review, highlighting the compounds with enormous significance as antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, antileishmanial, cytotoxic, antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant agents. In addition, the article briefly discusses the synthetic pathways employed for the total synthesis of selected pyranochalcones, including mallaophilippens C and E, citrunobin, and lesperol. Consequently, this overview may help research and design novel, potent therapeutic medications based on previously developed methodologies. This review is intended to provide a thorough, authoritative, and critical assessment of the chromenochalcone template for the chemistry community.