Exploring Herbal Antihistaminics-Natural Allergy Fighters for Comprehensive Health Care (2025)

Ayurveda, an Indian medical system, has prescribed a number of medications made from locally available plant sources to treat allergy diseases and bronchial asthma.⁸³ Plants have served as medicinal remedies since ancient times, providing treatments for various common ailments throughout human history. Since the dawn of civilization, humans have sought outremedies for different illnesses through their own methods.⁸⁴ The assessment of the pharmacological properties of different plants utilized in traditional medicine is gaining more and more attention.

Many human cells, including basophils, mast cells, lymphocytes, histaminergic neurons, platelets and enterochromaffin cells, are responsible for the synthesis and release of histamine.

The inflammatory reaction is set off by histamine. Histamine is produced by basophils and mast cells in the surrounding connective tissues in response to invasive infections. White blood cells and some proteins can more easily enter infected tissues through capillaries that are more permeable due to histamine.

Antihistamines are a type of medicine that is often used to treat a number of allergic disorders. The body’s overproduction of histamine causes allergic and inflammatory reactions. Natural remedies have historically been used to counteract the effects of histamine.

Several plants and their derived natural products have been reported as safe, effective and inexpensive antiallergic agents. viz, as per G Sridevi et al., Ocimum sanctum demonstrates efficacy in treating asthma by stabilizing mast cells, suppressing IgE and inhibiting inflammatory mediator release, based on experimental findings. According to P. Venkatesh et al., Curculigo orchioides rhizomes contain alkaloids, polyphenols, saponins, steroids and tannins, which collectively contribute to its medicinal properties, including allergy alleviation. Dinesh Kumar et al. 2011 found that, the bark extract of Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. significantly reduced paw volume, potentially by inhibiting antigen-antibody reactions or acting as an antihistamine. It also decreased clonidine-induced catalepsy by possibly antagonizing H1 receptors, indicating significant antihistaminic activity. Similarly, as per Rahul Hazare et al., both the ethanolic extract and essential oil of Piper betel Linn. demonstrated antihistaminic properties, inhibiting histamine-induced contractions in guinea pig tracheal and ileum preparations, likely through H1 receptor antagonism. Dnyaneshwar J Taur et al., demonstrated Clitoria ternatea L. root extract, known for its anti-inflammatory effects, effectively reduced clonidine-induced catalepsy, suggesting antihistaminic activity mediated via H1 receptor antagonism.

On other hand, according to Dnyaneshwar J et al., Ethanol extract of Abrus precatorius Leaves (EAPL) possesses significant antihistaminic activity, as demonstrated by its inhibition of clonidine-induced catalepsy, mediated by histamine through H1 receptors, thereby suggesting its potential as an antihistaminic or mast cell stabilizing agent.

As per Dnyaneshwar J Taur et al., the ethanol extract of Coccinia grandis fruit contains saponin, steroids, alkaloids, flavonoids and glycosides. Saponins stabilize mast cells, exhibiting antiallergic and antihistaminic properties. Glycosides have antiasthmatic effects by relaxing tracheal smooth muscle and reducing allergies. Flavonoids like apigenin and luteolin possess bronchodilator activity, inhibiting histamine release for antiallergic effects.

ECGF stabilizes mast cells, inhibits histamine release and prevents catalepsy, showing promise for asthma treatment due to its antiallergic and mast cell stabilizing effects. Yoke Keong Yong et al., found that Bixa Orellana’s aqueous extract possesses anti-inflammatory properties by reducing vascular permeability through the suppression of biochemical mediators such as VEGF and NO in tissues, indicating its potential as an anti-inflammatory agent. As per Pandy Vijayapandi et al., Acorus calamus contains a diverse range of phytochemicals, including terpenoids, steroids, xanthones, lignans, flavones, glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, polyphenolic compounds, mucilage, glucoside, alkaloids and essential oils like calamen, clamenol, calameon, asarone and sesquiterpenes. Both methanol and aqueous extracts of its leaves exhibit antimuscarinic activity, suggesting possible bronchodilator effects and validating its traditional use in asthma treatment. According to, Sunita Thakur et al., Moringa oleifera extract contains steroids, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids and glycosides. Glycoside, saponins stabilize mast cells, while flavonoids like apigenin and luteolin inhibit histamine release from basophils and neutrophils. They also suppress histamine release triggered by 48/80, showing promise for asthma treatment due to anti-allergic and mast cell stabilizing effects. Sangilimuthu Alagar Yadav et al., identified 5-hydroxy-1-methylpiperidin-2-one isolated from Tragia involucrata L. leaves acts as a potent muscle relaxant, bronchodilator and anti-allergic agent, particularly effective against histamine-induced muscle contraction in guinea pigs. It exhibits strong antihistamine properties as evidenced by its high docking score, energy and interactions.

According to Hassan M Qureshi et al., both ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Murraya koenigii Linn. demonstrated antihistaminic and anticholinergic activities. They caused a rightward shift in histamine concentration response curves and dose-dependent relaxation of pre-contracted isolated rabbit trachea and jejunum tissue, indicating potential for treating airway and gastrointestinal disorders. Firdous A. et al., found that, the ethanolic extract of Cuscuta reflexa demonstrated mast cell stabilizing activity, likely due to its flavonoids and saponins. As per Ms. Asha Jadhav et al., The methanolic extract from Raphanus sativus L. leaves contains saponins, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides and carbohydrates. It significantly inhibits dose-dependent contraction induced by histamine, suggesting competitive antagonism for H1 receptors on smooth muscle. This indicates its ability to effectively inhibit responses to various contractile stimuli, including histamine, thus possessing antihistaminic action. According to Vandana Athiya et al., Adathoda vasica extract contains carbohydrates, glycosides, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, tannins and phenolic compounds. Its methanol extract shows significant antihistaminic activity, likely due to its H1-antagonist properties, contributing to bronchodilating, anti-inflammatory and adaptogenic effects.