ABSTRACT
2-(2-Phenylethyl) chromones are only distributed in a few plant species and have many bioactivities such as neuroprotection, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. They are the characteristic and main active components of agarwood. They are expected to have broad medicinal application value. In this paper, the research progress of the biological activities such as neuroprotective activity, anti-tumor cytotoxic activity, antibacterial activity and anti-inflammatory activity, as well as the structure-activity relationship and biosynthetic pathway of 2-(2-phenethyl) chromone compounds were reviewed and prospected. It provides a reference for screening the pharmaceutical 2-(2-phenethyl) chromone compounds and analyzing their biosynthetic pathways. Some problems in the current biosynthesis researches are also pointed out here.