Beetroot and Turmeric as Alternative Dyes for Haematoxylin and Eosin in Histological Staining

Abstract

Dyes are referred to as stains which are used to add color to tissues and microbes to make them optical distinct. The dyes are both synthetic and natural, the synthetic ones may be harmful, hazardous to health and are costly to obtain. Natural dyes are eco-friendly, not costly and not hazardous to health as compared to synthetic dyes. In this study, various procedures such as H and E which serves as control as normal routine staining in histopathology laboratory was used to compare Beetroot and Eosin (B and E), Haematoxylin and Turmeric (H and T). Beetroot and Turmeric (B T) Beetroot and Eosin stains collagen fibre almost similar to H and E, that shows beetroot can be used as alternative for Haematoxylin in H and E staining technique. Haematoxylin and Turmeric stained the tissue almost similar to H and E which shows that Turmeric can replace Eosin. However, B and T poorly stained collagen fibre when compared with H and E. The conclusion came out that, Beetroot containing Betanin which gives it a red color has the same ability of staining Nuclei Bluish purple because of its basic content and may require a mordant (Vineger) as attain enhancer for most of the tissues. Turmeric exhibits the basophilic-like effect on collage fibre, it stains the cytoplasm fairly yellowish, because of its curcumin that makes it yellow. Beetroot and Turmeric as a direct replacement of H and E staining technique in Histopathology laboratory should further be studied with adequate concentration and mordant as the features is suggestive that B and T can replace H and E.