Natural dyes versus lysochrome dyes in cheiloscopy: A comparative evaluation.

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Dermatoglyphics
• Cheiloscopy

Background:

• Cheiloscopy, the study of lip prints, is a valuable forensic technique due to the unique and stable nature of lip prints.
• Developing visible and latent lip prints often relies on expensive reagents, posing a challenge in resource-limited settings.
• Naturally derived, cost-effective alternatives are needed for widespread application in forensic investigations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare the efficacy of vermilion and indigo dye against sudan black for developing lip prints.
• To assess the performance of these reagents on different surfaces: bone china, satin fabric, and cotton fabric.
• To determine the viability of using readily available, natural dyes in forensic cheiloscopy.

Main Methods:

• Lip prints were collected from 45 volunteers on bone china cups, satin fabric, and cotton fabric.
• Visible and latent lip prints were developed using sudan black, vermilion, and indigo dye.
• The effectiveness of each reagent on different surfaces was graded and statistically analyzed.

Main Results:

• Both vermilion and indigo dye demonstrated comparable efficacy to sudan black in developing visible and latent lip prints.
• These natural dyes proved effective across all tested substrates: bone china, satin, and cotton fabric.
• The results indicate successful development of lip prints using cost-effective and readily available reagents.

Conclusions:

• Vermilion and indigo dye are effective, affordable alternatives for developing lip prints in forensic applications.
• Their comparable performance to sudan black validates their use in cheiloscopy, especially in resource-constrained environments.
• This study highlights the potential of natural dyes in enhancing forensic investigation techniques.