Staining Efficacy of Zingiber Officinale and Curcuma Longa as a Natural Alternative to Eosin - A Comparative Study

Abstract

Introduction: Synthetic dyes are expensive, allergic, and health hazardous to the human health and deleterious to the environment. In this era, the use of ecofriendly and biodegradable material has gained interest worldwide. Eosin is the widely used synthetic dye in histopathology. Zingiber officinale (ginger) and Curcuma longa (turmeric) contain polyphenolic compounds and several colouring compounds, which impart colour. Aims and Objectives: To compare the staining efficacy of ginger and turmeric dyes by observing the nuclear staining, cytoplasmic staining, overall histologic appearance, intensity, and contrast. Material and Methods: The fresh rhizomes of Zingiber Officinale (Z. Officinale) and Curcuma longa (C. longa) were collected, and dye preparations were done by dissolving dried powder of both extracts into 70% alcohol, which was used to stain the sections of 10 cases of oral submucous fibrosis. Stained slides were evaluated by the independent observer using the various parameters like nuclear, cytoplasmic staining, overall histologic appearance, intensity, and contrast of staining. Statistical significance was done by using Chi-square test. Result: Z. officinale showed better staining efficacy compared to C. longa. Z. officinale The cytoplasm of the cell and connective tissue components is stained with pale eosin by Z. officinale and by C. longa, with a yellow to golden yellow color. There was no statistically significant difference seen in nuclear staining (P = 0.133), and a significant difference was seen in cytoplasmic staining (P = 0.0008), overall histologic appearance (0.00001), staining intensity (P = 0.0258), and contrast (P = 0.012). Conclusion: Z. officinale showed better staining than C. longa and can be used as a natural safe alternative to the eosin in haematoxylin and eosin staining method.

Keywords

• curcuma longa
• eosin
• natural stains
• zingiber officinale