‘Wereque:’ The Mexican plant that could help treat cancer

Max Vidal Gutiérrez, a Mexican doctorate student at the Universidade Estadual Paulista in Brazil

, is now developing a drug made out of the Ibervillea sonorae plant, commonly known as ‘Wereque,’ a Mexican tuber with antitumor properties that could help in the treatment of Cancer.

Originally found in the Mexican states of Sonora and Sinaloa , this plant has been commonly used by local indigenous communities such as the Yaqui and Seri peoples to treat skin diseases.

Vidal Gutiérrez, who is also a graduate from the University of Sonora (UNISON) , explained that his investigation followed the discoveries of professor Heriberto Torres regarding the antitumor properties of some molecules found in the plant’s roots. These traits can be used to elaborate phytopharmaceuticals.

Vidal described two essential stages in the creation of phytopharmaceuticals: One involves chemistry and the other, biology. His project seeks to bring these two stages together through analytical chemistry, notably mass spectrometric techniques and nuclear magnetic resonance.

Phytopharmaceuticals made out of the ‘wereque’ plant will be subject to several lab trials to assess their effectiveness.

The investigation is backed by scientists Wagner Vilegas and Ramón E. Robles Zepeda, from the Universidade Estadual Paulista and the University of Sonora .

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