Recent advances in silico drug design: Applications in histamine receptor targeting for antihistaminic therapy

Abstract

In recent years, in silico drug design has become an indispensable tool in the early stages of drug discovery, providing a cost-effective and time-efficient approach to the identification and optimization of potential therapeutic agents. This review focuses on the applications of in silico methods, specifically molecular docking, in the discovery of novel antihistamine agents targeting the histamine H1 receptor. The H1 receptor, a key G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) involved in allergic responses, is a primary target for antihistamine drugs used in the treatment of conditions such as allergic rhinitis, urticaria, and asthma. Traditional H1 antagonists, while effective, often have limitations such as sedative effects and short duration of action. Therefore, the development of non-sedating, more selective antihistamines is a key area of pharmaceutical research.