By: Manuel Ferdinand Ramirez de Erio

“It's all in Bohol .” This slogan by Dustin Rene Bernasor won first prize in Bohol slogan making contest way back in late 90's. Back then, I took it as an optimistic grasp of an illusive dream in the eye of a high school student. Today, with the leadership and efforts of our government leaders, Bohol got out from the list of poorest provinces in the country. Hence, from the long list of eco-cultural assets and the socio-economic growth of the island province. I can now say, “indeed, it's all in Bohol .” Bohol has indeed grown dramatically. Speaking of growth, who would have ever thought that in a little barrio where tranquility reigns and nature springs free, nestled is a multi-million peso state-of-the-art pharmaceutical laboratory equipped with apparatus, gadgets and equipments that meet international standard for microbiology and pharmaceutical research and production. And, who would have thought that this pharmaceutical laboratory is in Bohol ! This laboratory is the Gershon Pharmaceutical Laboratory in barrio Tanghaligue, Talibon, Bohol. Gerson Pharma abides on the principle that nature has the resource and healing power. It believes that materials for healing can be derived from plants and other organisms found in the wild. The company is founded on the belief that when given proper and scientific way of extracting and formulation, the best medicine could be derived enough to alleviate and cure completely the common maladies that beset man. Its most important framework of the company is based on the idea that locally available medicines from “Mother Nature” should be produced locally and be made available to the common man everyday at a lesser cost. This is the fundamental principle of this company.

The laboratory

Gershon Pharmaceutical research center ranks among the leading pharmaceutical laboratories in the Country today. The laboratory takes the pride to have acquired laboratory equipment that guarantees the safety and quality of its pharmaceutical products. Among the many equipment are the High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Electrophoresis Apparatus, Chromatograph Apparatus, Millipore Filtering Apparatus, Analogue Analyszer for Data Processing and Water Bath. The High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) equipment has many applications including separation, identification, purification, and quantification of various compounds. The HPLC equipment is to process the isolation and purification of compounds that helps obtain information about the sample compound. The information that can be obtained includes identification, quantification, and resolution of a compound. This equipment can separate compounds from each other. It also purifies thru the process of separating or extracting the target compound from other compounds or contaminants. It also identifies and quantifies compounds by determining the unknown concentration of a compound in a known solution. On the other hand, the Electrophoresis Apparatus is a devised widely used in molecular biology and medicine. It is applied for the separation and characterization of proteins, nucleic acids and subcellular-sized particles like viruses and small organelles. Gerson Pharma has acquired a Millipore Filtering Apparatus. This apparatus uses a membrane filter tester. It provides information on biological contaminants, chemical composition, and filtration rates of water and other liquids

Gerson Pharma undertakings

Through hard work, the company obtained a Licence to Operate as Drug Manufacturer with LTO No. RDII-RVII-DM-039, from the Bureau of Food and Drug (BFAD) in November 30, 2004. It's pilot products are Herba Primera and Duluz-T. Herba Primera is a therapeutic oil made from indigenous herbs and plants. This oil effectively sooths muscle and joint pains, slows down fever and cough and even heals insect bites. Duluz-T has been proven as an effective treatment for burns and open superficial wounds. It contains topical antibiotic and antiseptic derived from plant Nauclea orientalis Linne (Fam. Rubiaceae). These two products which come in a competent packaging and product presentation have dramatically made it to the shopping list of consumers. The company obtained the required Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) from BFAD Main office for Herba Primera in February 21, 2006 (BFAD Registration No. DRHR-741 DC-003399) and Duluz-T on March 21, 2006 (BFAD Registration No. HMR-11 DC-003856). Recently, the company was also registered in the Bohol Investment Board in March 9, 2006 . The company will target to produce the two products: Herba Primera and Duluz-T enough to cover the whole market in the entire country. What could be noted as a milestone of the company is its discovery of microorganisms from mangroves as a source Polyunsaturated Fatty acids or PUFA (e.g. DHA & EPA). This discovery was achieved thru the tireless efforts and brilliance of the nationally acclaimed and internationally recognized Applied Biochemist/Microbiologist and Molecular Biologist Dr. Jose M. Oclarit of Gershon Pharma.

At present, the Philippines have been importing DHA and EPA from other countries. These two compounds, referred to in lay man's term as omega-3, are useful in brain development, visual acuity, improving memory, enhanced immune system, and increased agility. It is therefore increasing the healthfulness of products for the home, food industry and in medical therapeutics. The polyunsaturated fatty acids, specifically docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are important for infant brain development. Accretion of DHA in the infant brain is dependent on DHA-status, intake and metabolism. DHA has been shown to reduce levels of blood triglycerides. DHA alone appears to be just as effective as fish oils (which contain both DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA]) in beneficially lowering triglyceride levels in people at risk for heart disease. The discovery of DHA and EPA in mangrove is a breakthrough in microbiology achieved by a Boholano scientist Dr. Jose M. Oclarit and the Gershon Pharmaceutical Research Laboratory. As of the present, the Philippines has been importing DHA and EPA from other countries. Thus, these polyunsaturated fatty acids had become a luxurious and expensive commodity. With the discovery of Dr. Oclarit, DHA and EPA shall become an affordable commodity and shall improve the healthful benefits in many industries. Other countries may as well export these and in return would help alleviate the economy of the Philippines .

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