Medicinal Plant-Based Products Available in Mexico: Regulatory Requirements and Recommendations for their Use

Abstract

Medicinal plants are a source of chemical compounds that can be employed for therapeutic purposes. The use of plants for medicinal purposes has been recorded since ancient times by traditional medicine. Mexican legislation contemplates three types of medicinal plant-based products such as herbal medicines, herbal remedies, and food supplements, each of which must meet different requirements to be considered within each category. These products apparently harmless because they are compoused from natural ingredients; however, people who use them may experience side effects, toxic effects, and drug interactions in the same way as an allopathic medicine. The purpose of this work is to provide an overview of medicinal plant-based products included in Mexican legislation, as well as to provide some recommendations for their proper use.