REPORT ON STUDENT FIELD TRIP

TO

Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories,

2, Monastery Road,
Ewu,
Edo State.

SUBMITTED
BY

EBOM LAURA AWELE

PHC/18/19/253679

TO

DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOGNOSY,
FACULTY OF PHARMACY,
DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY,
ABRAKA.

MAY, 2022.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Title page .............................................................................................................. 1

Laboratory Department ....................................................................................... 7
Production Department ....................................................................................... 9
Clinical Department ........................................................................................... 11
Offices ................................................................................................................ 12
Pax Herbarium ................................................................................................... 12
Pax Nursery ........................................................................................................ 13
Pax Veterinary House ........................................................................................ 14
Summary ............................................................................................................ 15
Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 16
Recommendations ............................................................................................ 17

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 ABSTRACT

Prior to the introduction of the widely distributed contemporary medicine, traditional

medicine used to be the dominant medical system available to millions of people in
Africa in both rural and urban communities. However, the arrival of the Europeans
marked a significant turning point in the history of this age-long tradition and culture.
This report elucidates the knowledge gained during the field trip at Pax Herbal Clinic
and Research Laboratories, St. Benedict Monastery, Ewu, Edo state. The paper
concludes by explaining the importance of the traditional medicine in health, and that
to minimize the current distrust between modern and traditional doctors and to
achieve the objective of regulation, standardization and cooperation, both traditional
and modern doctors must acknowledge their areas of strengths and weaknesses from
which they operate and be genuinely concerned about the difficult but necessary task
of being human.

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 INTRODUCTION

The journey to Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories, St. Benedict Monastery,
Ewu started at about 8:40am from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Delta State University and
arrival time was 12pm.
Brief History of Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories
In 1996, the founder of Pax herbals (Adodo Anselm) started a small herbal garden in
Ewu Monastery where he grew medicinal plants. The first herbal preparations from
the herbal garden were used in making herbal remedies for common ailments like
malaria and cough. A loan of about thirty thousand Naira (NGN 40,000 or approx.
$200) was used to build a three-room clinic where patients from nearby villages were
attended to by Anselm and his first employee Gbogbo John. The three-room clinic
soon came to be called Pax Herbal Center. So, Pax Herbal started first as a herbal
garden and then a herbal clinic where herbal preparations were being carried out. Chief
Lucky, former Edo State Governor, became one notable person to benefit from
preparations from the herbal clinic as he was really sick that he left to be treated
abroad, but he found his remedy in a preparation from his mother land by the Pax
Herbal Clinic. By May 2006, Pax herbals had built a set of laboratories which was
commissioned by Chief Lucky Igbinedion, Governor of Edo State. Pax Herbal Clinic
and Research laboratory has the following objectives:
 To serve as a Centre for genuine African Holistic that blends the physical and
the spiritual aspects of human person
 To serve as a research Centre for the scientific identification, Conservation,
utilization and development of African Medicinal Plants
 To become a model comprehensive health care Centre where the
western/orthodox and traditional systems of healing are creatively blended.
 To be truly indigenous Centre of healing that is based on genuine African
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 Christian spirituality. To this effect, PAX has made unprecedented efforts in
correcting the negative attitudes of African Christians towards African
medicine and promoted a sense of pride of African medicine

 Dissemination of knowledge of the health benefits of African medicinal plants

through publications, seminars and workshops. One of such is the herbal
medicine.
 To carryout researches in the area of ancient African healing systems with a
view to modernizing them and making them available to the wider world.
 To demystify the practice of African Traditional Medicine and purge it of
elements of paganism, fetishism and superstition and promote its rational use
so as to make it a globally accepted enterprise.

Beliefs, Breakthroughs and Partnerships

Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories is one of the biggest, best
equipped, best-organized and most modern herbal research Centre in Africa. With
quality control, microbiology, research, diagnostic and drug formulation laboratories
that are comparable to any standard laboratories in any part of the world, and with
over 31 of her herbal supplements already listed by NAFDAC, PAX herbals has
justifiably been described as the frontrunner of an emerging medical revolution in
Africa.
Pax Herbals believes that health does not refer to just an absence of pain or
disease, bur harmony of body, mind and spirit and that true and lasting progress is
possible only when science and technology grow out of, and are based on, indigenous
knowledge. Therefore, only a holistic approach to health and well-being can provide
lasting solution to human sicknesses.
Pax is in partnership with various institutes and government agencies such as:
Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), National Office for
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Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), National Council for Arts and
Culture (NCAC), Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria (RRIN), Pharmaceutical
Society of Nigeria (PSN), Raw Materials Research and Development Council of
Nigeria (RMRDC), Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) amongst others.

DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF PAX HERBAL.

Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratory is made up of three sections
namely the laboratory section, clinical section, and production section
1. Laboratory Departments
The laboratory department is made up of
a) Quality Control department
b) Research laboratory
c) Microbiological laboratory
d) Diagnostic laboratory
e) Formulation or Production laboratory

a) Quality Control Laboratory

Quality control is a set of processes or procedures carried out to ensure that a
product meet certain specifications for efficacy, safety and potency. The quality
control laboratory:
 Analyze the drugs and water used for production to ensure safety, purity and
efficacy
 Also carryout phytochemical screening.
 Also carry out fingerprinting on all products to ensure that all products are duly
produced by Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories
 Pharmacognostic properties of plants such as moisture content (for powder
drugs), acid insoluble ash value

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  Pathogenic screening (free from pathogenic organisms)  Analyze raw
materials for production.
Equipment Used In The Quality Control Laboratory These
include:
 Fume cupboard used in cases where the reaction could produce toxic gases
 Furnace: for heating to determine ash value and acid insoluble ash value
 Hot air oven: Employed to determine moisture content
Desiccator: to keep hydroscopic materials that absorb moisture.

 Deionized Machine: Employed to produce deionized water

 Water distiller: to produce distilled water

Fig. 1: A Desiccator
 Water Bath
 Heating Mantle
 Centrifuge: To get a clear supernatant in situations where this is necessary. b)
Research Laboratories
The research laboratory carryout researches into all their products by employing
different methods such as
 Fingerprinting: This is carried out when products are faked by other marketers.
Hence fingerprinting is carried out to ascertain product authenticity.
 Efficacy Testing: This is carried with the help of in vivo and invitro assay such
as assay for antioxidant activity and antibiotic activity, larvicidal activity,
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 anticancer screening, antimalarial screening.
 Compound isolation and purification.
Equipments used in the Research Laboratory These include:
 UV lamp for fingerprinting Thin Layer Chromatography
 Centrifuge for separation
 Microscope for pharmacognostic feature such as stomata number, stomata
index, Palisade ratio

Fig. 2 A Monocular Microscope

 pH meter
 Oven for drying plant materials

c) Microbiological Laboratory
This laboratory department work hand in hand with the quality control
laboratory. Here all plants are being screened to assess microbial load of each
product, to ensure that they do not contain any contaminant or micro-organisms such
as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other enterobacteria gotten by using
contaminated water. It is a prerequisite for all product to undergo microbiological
screening.

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Equipments used in the Microbiological Laboratory These
include:
 Incubator: Used to incubate culture at 370C
 Laminal Flow: Where tissue culture is analyzed with UV light that can sterilize
the place
 Autoclave: This is employed during hot air sterilization.
 Hot oven: This is employed for drying
 Fridge: To store some microbiological items
 Various culture media: e.g. nutrient agar (multipurpose agar), cetrimide agar
base, methylene blue
 Water treatment plant to treat water for drug use and assay the microbial load

d) Diagnostic Laboratory:
This is the first point of call when patients come in. Before effecting therapy, it is
necessary to carryout diagnosis to ascertain the course of the ailment, e.g. blood
glucose level, urine analysis and sputum analysis. Others include: oral glucose
tolerance test, malaria test, etc.

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 2. Production Department

This is where liquid drugs, tea, capsules, are produced, labelled and packaged prior
to distribution via the conveyor located in the production section to the loading bay.
The different sections in the production section include:
 Coding Room Section: In this section, drugs are given expiry date. This
machine makes use of a sensor. The products are placed in the conveyor and as
the conveyor moves close to the sensor, the sensor senses it, passes the
response to the machine which releases the ink through the pipe product is
affixed a particular expiry date. This section consists of the following Labelling
Section: This is where the products are labelled. Labels are printed and fixed
unto the bottle containing the drug.
 Capsule Section: This is where capsules are produced. The powder drug is
poured unto a perforated vessel with the body at the bottom of the vessel and

then brushed to fill the powder drug into the body. Thereafter, the cap are
placed into a perforated flat surface and then the capsule are sealed.
Thereafter, they are packaged prior to distribution.
 Tea section: The machine used in this production is called Maixe machine.
After production, they are packaged into small cartons prior to distribution.

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Fig. 3 Tea Bag Machine

Packaging Section: After production especially for liquid dosage forms, they
are placed on the conveyor leading to the packaging machine which seals them
together in groups using a thick polythene material. They are then placed in the
conveyor belt which carries them to the store room for storage or to the loading
bay prior to distribution.

Fig. 4 Storage Room

 Heating Room: Here, barks, leaves and crude plants are heated. Sun drying
may induce microbial contamination on the product.

 Leaf drying section: This is where leaves are dried. They are dried on wooden
tables with an electric bulb over it. The bulbs work for 24hours every day.
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One of their product is shown below:

Fig. 5 A liquid formulation from Pax Herbal Clinic

Water Treatment Plant
This plant is used to remove impurities, contaminants from water used for
production. However, the water used is also tested for microbial load

3. Clinical Department:
This consists of the following:
 Waiting Hall: Here patients and patients’ families sit awaiting consultation.
The consultant is called an Herbal Doctor. In the waiting hall, there is an
aquarium for sight-seeing especially for depressed patients.
 Card Section: Likewise, there is a card section, where patients’ medical cards
containing medical records are kept and could be retrieved at any time when
needed.
 Nurse Section: This is where the nurse sits to examine patient’s blood
pressure, blood glucose, pulse rate etc.
 Consultant Room: there are four (4) consultant rooms in Pax Herbal and each
allows patient interact with the consultant

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 Pax Pharmacy: Pax pharmacy consists of the dispensary section and fitness
room. Arranged on the shelves are products produced by Pax Herbal. About 32 of
these products have been listed by the National Agency of Food and Drug
Administration and Control (NAFDAC)
 Dispensary: Here drugs are collected after payment
 Fitness Room: in the fitness room, patients undergo massage as a form of
therapy using a massage bed. Trojan tread mill was also present as a form of
exercise and fitness.

Music Section: Not all illness require drugs, however there is what is called the
power of music. This is however used to relieve depression. Drums of ancient
antecedents were displayed.

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OFFICES:
These include

 Office of the Head of Scientific Research and Development

 Electrical Office: Where electrical issues are sorted out  Data Office:
 Logistics and Statistics
 Work Manager’s Office
 Legal Office: where legal issues relating to Pax Herbal are carried out
 Secretariat: Main administrative office where administrative activities are
carried out
 Library: Where books on traditional herbal therapy, conventional drugs therapy
as well as the issue of spirituality as they relate to the health of a patient are
kept
 Information office: where information about Pax Herbal can be gotten.

PAX HERBARIUM

Herbarium is a place where plant specimens are preserved for reference purposes.
Simply put, an herbarium is a plant museum
Plant collection in Pax Herbal is divided into two (2)
 Carpological Collection: this involves collection of seeds and fruits
 Voucher or Card Collection: Here the plant specimens are collected, pressed,
arranged according to a systematic method. Here, vegetative and reproductive
parts of the plants are collected.

Raw material Section: Here raw materials for example stems and roots are stored
in the raw material section. E.g. Fagara stem
Herbal Library: It is important to note that in Pax Herbal, science has to do with
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 research. Different books by different authors that contribute to knowledge are
available at Pax Herbal geared towards bridging the gap between religion, science
and spirituality.
Botanical Garden: The botanical garden is a garden where plant with medicinal
uses are cultivated for:
 Research purposes
 For production of drugs
 To aid ease of plant identification.
Plants are classified according to their families. Some medicinal plants
cultivated in Pax botanical garden include:
 Eucalyptus officinalis also called fever tree used in the treatment of fever. The
leaves and stems used in the treatment of stomach ache, painful menstruation,
as a mosquito repellant
 Psidium guajava
 Ixora coccinea used in the treatment of typhoid fever
 Bryophyllum pinnatum also called resurrection plant used in the treatment of
convulsion and a host of others.

Pax Nursery:
This is where seeds are sown or plants are planted and allowed to grow to a
desired height before transplanting them to the botanical garden. This is a means of
afforestation. The seeds are sown in small black polythene bags containing the
appropriate soil. After growing to a certain height, they are transplanted into the
botanical garden.

VETERINARY HOUSE:
This is where laboratory and experimental animals are kept. However, after drug
discovery or drug production, it is more appropriate to test such drug using laboratory

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animals. This consists of the:
 Animal House: This is where animals such as mice, albino rats
 Poultry: here birds are nurtured on high nets for meat and eggs  Fish pond:
where fishes are reared for productivity and sale

Other Sections outside the Clinic Include

 Bakery: In the bakery, breads are baked. This is especially for diabetic
patients. The breads are baked with flour and pure honey
 Candle section: In the candle section, as the name implies candles are
produced and this is used during prayers, reading. The candles vary in colours.
Pax candle could be red or yellow. Some of the candles displayed include: St.
Rita’s candle, St. Benedict’s candle, St. Anthony’s candle, Pascal candle etc.
 Monastery: This is where the monks live. It was out of bound for visitors

The conference room was the last point of call. This was where the interactive
section between students, staffs of Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories,
Lecturers of the Department of Pharmacognosy, Delta State University. The
interactive session lasted for about 45minutes and departure time was 4:00pm.

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Summary
The practical herbarium and field trip is an aspect of pharmacognosy that broadens
student’s knowledge and experience in practice. This field trip has widened my
knowledge of pharmacognosy and training as a pharmacy student and has exposed
me to the use of African medicine. Likewise, it is one of such required in the
profession of pharmacy to bridge the gap between classroom teaching and
practical experience. Different sections of Pax Herbal visited showed the great role
traditional medicinal practice has helped to improve health outcomes and has
brought to the limelight, the practice of traditional therapy as well as to bridge the
gap between traditional practice and orthodox medicine.

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 Conclusion

Practical Herbarium field trip has brought to the limelight the practice of

traditional medicine and as such should be encouraged. This is very important since

at one time, traditional medicine has been a form of therapy for a very long time. The

main tip is for it to be integrated into orthodox medicine and we are hoping that this

will soon be achieved.

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Recommendations

Herbarium Field trip should be done annually so as to enable student

appreciate the clinical significance and the role traditional medicine has played in

science.

Pharmacy schools should establish Herbarium where medicinal plants are

cultivated, processed and formulated into a dosage form to help students take part in

production.

It focuses on the traditional aspect of pharmacy which is relevant to my

training as a pharmacy student as it exposed me to the proper utilization of African

medicines. An academic field trip is a course related activity that serves

educational purposes and occurs outside of the classroom at a location other than on

the campus at which the course is regularly taught. It is an important and enjoyable

element of education, which often significantly enhance the content of a course by

providing a

type of information hard to convey in the classroom.

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