My experiences in the study of selected Mexican medicinal plants and fungi

Abstract

In modern Mexico, as in many regions of the world, an important segment of the population relies on traditional medicine for primary health care. Therefore, it is important to study these species from a multidisciplinary point of view to assure their rational use, conservation, and to assess their potential as a source of new drugs and understand. Along these lines, for almost three decades we have systematically investigated some medicinal species, highly prized for their medicinal value. A concise overview of this research will be presented emphasizing the role of traditional knowledge in the understanding of the pharmacology of medicinal plants and the discovery new drug leads, as well as its positive impact in the global market of natural health products. Examples of interesting compounds obtained from fungi isolated from these plants will be presented, highlighting those with calmodulin-binding properties.