Hibiscus Iodine Staining of Cellular and Keratinized Tissues As A Nuclear Stain Substitute For Haematoxylin

Abstract

An iodine-based formulation of a simple boiling water extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa was compounded and stored at 4^oC. Formalin fixed paraffin embedded blocks of tissues from appendix, ovary, lymph node and skin were randomly retrieved from teaching block archives duly labelled and sectioned at five microns. Sections were stained with the Hibiscus iodine formulation in line with routine protocol for h a e m a t o x y l i n a n d e o s i n . E r h l i c h ’s haematoxylin was used as parallel control for each organ. Microscopic slide review by histopathology experts assessed the results as very good and revealed comparative staining with standard haematoxylin and eosin thus expanding the application of Hibiscus formulation in histopathological demonstration of cellular and keratinised tissues especially skin, lymph node, appendix and ovary.