What is cromolyn sodium made from?

Short answer:
Cromolyn sodium is the sodium salt of the synthetic drug cromoglycate.

What that means chemically

• The “base” compound is cromoglycate – a synthetic chromene‑type molecule that contains a chromene (benzopyran) core, two carboxylic‑acid groups, and a methoxy‑methyl‑phenyl side chain.
• In pharmaceutical preparations this base is neutralized with sodium hydroxide (or another sodium salt) to form cromolyn sodium (C₁₄H₁₅NaO₆).
• The sodium ion simply makes the compound more soluble and stable in aqueous solution, which is how it’s formulated for inhalation or nasal spray.

Where it comes from

• Cromolyn sodium is not extracted from any natural source; it is produced entirely through chemical synthesis in a controlled laboratory or industrial setting.
• The synthetic pathway starts with the chromene core, introduces the necessary functional groups, and finally reacts the acid form with sodium hydroxide to yield the sodium salt.

So, in short, cromolyn sodium is made from a synthetic chromene derivative (cromoglycate) that has been converted into a sodium salt for medical use.