Respiratory infections are one of the leading global health priorities; these infections contribute significantly to illness and death, especially among vulnerable populations. Conventional treatments often face challenges, including antimicrobial resistance, adverse effects, and limited effectiveness against emerging pathogens. Additionally, these treatments may be less accessible in low-income countries. In this context, there is growing interest in developing new products based on specialized metabolites obtained from medicinal plants, mainly due to the knowledge that these natural resources are rich in diverse compounds with the potential to prevent and/or treat inflammation. Among the specialized metabolites, the chromone scaffold rises as one of the most effective scaffolds in the treatment of several diseases. Although evidence supports the use of these naturally derived compounds, issues related to standardization, bioavailability, and clinical validation remain. Overall, this special issue aims to provide insights into the discovery of new bioactive chromone derivatives, whether from natural or synthetic sources for combating respiratory infections, thereby promoting health and supporting the development of new, sustainable medicines.

Keywords: Chromones, respiratory infections, specialized metabolites, in vitro studies, in vivo studies