Curcuma longa extract - Haldi: A safe, eco-friendly natural cytoplasmic stain

Eosin is most widely used synthetic dye belonging to the xanthene group. These dyes are efficient but are hazardous to human and animal health. With the increasing awareness of a green earth, it is advisable to use more of eco-friendly and biodegradable material which can be effectively achieved by the use of natural dyes obtained from plants and other natural sources. Turmeric, available as Curcuma longa (domestic), has long been in use in the subcontinent as a spice and flavoring agent in most food preparations. Its health benefit as a natural antibiotic and anti-inflammatory has been successfully established by several researchers. The intense yellow color imparted by turmeric inspired us to explore its efficacy as a potential alternative for eosin in routine histopathological procedures.

The aim of this was to explore the efficacy of turmeric extract as a stand-alone counterstain for hematoxylin and its comparative assessment with routine H and E staining.

The rhizomes of C. longa were cut into small pieces, dried and milled. This powder was dissolved into alcohol and centrifuged using a centrifugal machine. The supernatant was then collected with the help of micropipette. This supernatant was used as a counterstain for hematoxylin.

The data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 15.0 (SPSS Inc.,). The P value obtained was statistically insignificant (P > 0.05).

Although eosin is the most efficient counterstain for hematoxylin, turmeric can also be used as an alternative for eosin.