Advances in natural coumaronochromones: a comprehensive review of natural occurrence, bioactivities, and chemical synthesis

doi:10.1007/s13659-026-00627-x

Natural Products and Bioprospecting ›› 2026, Vol. 16 ›› Issue (4): 48-48.DOI: 10.1007/s13659-026-00627-x

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Advances in natural coumaronochromones: a comprehensive review of natural occurrence, bioactivities, and chemical synthesis

Dan Xia¹, Qin Lv¹, Wei Wang¹, Meng-Fan Xie¹, Jin-Cai Li¹, Kun Li², Dashan Li¹, Wen-Jing Wang¹, Li-Dong Shao¹

1. Yunnan Key Laboratory of Southern Medicinal Utilization, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China;
2. School of Basic Medical Sciences, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China

Received:2026-01-08 Accepted:2026-03-09 Online:2026-08-29 Published:2026-08-22
Contact: Kun Li,E-mail:514579165@qq.com;Li-Dong Shao,E-mail:shaolidong@ynucm.edu.cn
Supported by:
The authors are grateful to the financial support from National Natural Science Foundation of China (82260683), the Yunnan Fundamental Research Projects-Joint Special Funds of Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine (202401AZ070001-007 and 202401AZ070001-106), the Start-up Fund of Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine (2019YZG03), the Bioactive Ethnopharmacol Molecules Chemical Conversion and Application Innovation Team of Department of Education of Yunnan Province (2022), and Science Research Foundation of Department of Education of Yunnan Province (2026Y0644).

Advances in natural coumaronochromones: a comprehensive review of natural occurrence, bioactivities, and chemical synthesis

Dan Xia¹, Qin Lv¹, Wei Wang¹, Meng-Fan Xie¹, Jin-Cai Li¹, Kun Li², Dashan Li¹, Wen-Jing Wang¹, Li-Dong Shao¹

1. Yunnan Key Laboratory of Southern Medicinal Utilization, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China;
2. School of Basic Medical Sciences, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China

通讯作者: Kun Li,E-mail:514579165@qq.com;Li-Dong Shao,E-mail:shaolidong@ynucm.edu.cn
基金资助:
The authors are grateful to the financial support from National Natural Science Foundation of China (82260683), the Yunnan Fundamental Research Projects-Joint Special Funds of Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine (202401AZ070001-007 and 202401AZ070001-106), the Start-up Fund of Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine (2019YZG03), the Bioactive Ethnopharmacol Molecules Chemical Conversion and Application Innovation Team of Department of Education of Yunnan Province (2022), and Science Research Foundation of Department of Education of Yunnan Province (2026Y0644).

Abstract

Abstract: Coumaronochromones, characterized by a distinctive benzofuro[2,3-b]chromenone core, constitute a rare subclass of isoflavonoids. Biosynthetically, they are proposed to originate from carbohydrate metabolism and the phenylpropanoid pathway like other isoflavones. To date, 92 natural coumaronochromones have been isolated and characterized from nearly 28 species across 24 genera within 7 families (including one fungal source). These compounds are predominantly distributed in the Fabaceae family, which accounts for over half (64%) of all known derivatives. Notably, approximately 20% of coumaronochromones are derived from the genus Euchresta (Fabaceae). The unique scaffold of coumaronochromones confers a broad spectrum of notable pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, insecticidal, cytotoxic, and immunomodulatory effects, highlighting their potential as valuable natural leads for pharmaceutical and agrochemical development. This review comprehensively summarizes recent advances in the chemistry and biology of coumaronochromones, providing a detailed account of their natural occurrence, documented biological activities, and chemical syntheses.

Key words: Coumaronochromones, Natural occurrence, Biological activities, Chemical syntheses

摘要： Coumaronochromones, characterized by a distinctive benzofuro[2,3-b]chromenone core, constitute a rare subclass of isoflavonoids. Biosynthetically, they are proposed to originate from carbohydrate metabolism and the phenylpropanoid pathway like other isoflavones. To date, 92 natural coumaronochromones have been isolated and characterized from nearly 28 species across 24 genera within 7 families (including one fungal source). These compounds are predominantly distributed in the Fabaceae family, which accounts for over half (64%) of all known derivatives. Notably, approximately 20% of coumaronochromones are derived from the genus Euchresta (Fabaceae). The unique scaffold of coumaronochromones confers a broad spectrum of notable pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, insecticidal, cytotoxic, and immunomodulatory effects, highlighting their potential as valuable natural leads for pharmaceutical and agrochemical development. This review comprehensively summarizes recent advances in the chemistry and biology of coumaronochromones, providing a detailed account of their natural occurrence, documented biological activities, and chemical syntheses.

关键词: Coumaronochromones, Natural occurrence, Biological activities, Chemical syntheses

Dan Xia, Qin Lv, Wei Wang, Meng-Fan Xie, Jin-Cai Li, Kun Li, Dashan Li, Wen-Jing Wang, Li-Dong Shao. Advances in natural coumaronochromones: a comprehensive review of natural occurrence, bioactivities, and chemical synthesis[J]. Natural Products and Bioprospecting, 2026, 16(4): 48-48.

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Advances in natural coumaronochromones: a comprehensive review of natural occurrence, bioactivities, and chemical synthesis

Advances in natural coumaronochromones: a comprehensive review of natural occurrence, bioactivities, and chemical synthesis

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