León, Gto., January 1, 2017. In Mexico, the use of herbal remedies to treat diverse illnesses is very common, even, combining them with medications. Hence, the researcher of the University of Guanajuato (UG), Dr. Juan Ramón Zapata Morales, leads a research focused on knowing the effects –positive and negative—of combining them.

In a first phase of the research, they analyze habitual drugs for pain, such as paracetamol and naproxen, the analgesic effects of Bidens Odorata, a common plant in states of the region, such as Guanajuato, Queretaro and San Luis Potosí.

"Everybody consumes free access medication, an aspirin, paracetamol, and also there is free access to herbal remedies", explains the UG professor, that is why it is important to know what happens when combining them. To find out, the academic and his students obtained extracts from Bidens Odorata, which they mixed with drugs as paracetamol and naproxen.

Researchers have observed that, when combining them, it increases the efficiency, which allows the reduce the dosage of the conventional drugs and hence, their adverse effects.

The scholar explained that the work team in charge of this project has 10 to 15 students who have been able to extract the main compound of some herbal extracts, "now we have to try these combinations and do so pharmaceutically and offer them to the market."

In a second stage of the project, they will evaluate hypoglycemic agents –medication used for diabetes—since in Mexico around 50% of the adults have this disease, and many them have tried an herbal remedy to treat it.

Dr. Zapata Morales alerted that sometimes, when combining the medications with herbal remedies instead of diminishing glucose, increases what could lead to a serious hypoglycemia.

Hence, the researcher sustains that it is necessary to understand and use the homemade remedies, and seek combination with commercial medication to benefit those who are in treatment.

Dr. Juan Ramón Zapata Morales is a chemist-pharmacist-biologist, he has Master's degree and a Ph.D. in Basic Medical Sciences. Has focused large part of his professional life to the valuing of analgesics of synthesis parting from plants.

As part of his professional experience, he worked for two years in a laboratory of control of medications, where he evaluates patent medication against generic. Currently, he researches the interaction of the traditional medicine –or herbal—with pharmaceutical medications to treat acute and chronic pain.