Description

Cetirizine is a second generation antihistamine that exhibits anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anti-allergic activities. Cetirizine inhibits histamine H1 receptors and is used to treat dermatitis in clinical settings. In vitro, cetirizine inhibits DNA binding activity of NF-κB, inhibits expression of adhesion molecules on immunocytes and endothelial cells, and inhibits production of IL-8 and leukotriene B4 (LTB4); this compound also increases release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which suppresses antigen presentation and expression of MHC II on macrophages and decreases tryptase in mast cells.