16.2 Explain the term, target molecules or drug targets as used in medicinal chemistry.
In medicinal chemistry, drug targets are the key molecules, which involved in certain metabolic pathways that result in specific diseases. Drugs mainly interact with biomolecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. Drugs are the chemical agents, and they are designed to inhibit these target molecules by binding with the active sites of the key molecules.