The Staining Interactions of Aqueous Extract of Skin Allium cepa (Red Onion) on Some Selected Histological Tissues
M. O. Mohammed
Department of Histopathology, School of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
A. A. Hali
Department of Histopathology, School of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
O. O. Okechi
Department of Histopathology, School of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
A. T. Muhammad
Department of Histopathology, School of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
R. I. Tsamiya
Department of Histopathology, School of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
U. Abubakar *
Department of Histopathology, School of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
I. Mohammed
Department of Histopathology, School of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
A. Umar
Department of Histopathology, School of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
S. M. Sani
Department of Histopathology, School of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
M. K. Dallatu
Department of Chemical Pathology, School of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Dandofiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
J. M. Bunza
Department of Chemical Pathology, School of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Dandofiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
H. Kabir
Department of Histopathology, School of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
H. M. Tambuwal
Department of Histopathology, School of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
A. Slisu
Department of Histopathology, School of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
B. A. Bello
Department of Chemical Pathology, School of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Dandofiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
F. A. Dogondaji
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria.
N. Okorie
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria.
S. Y. Ma’aruf
Department of Histopathology, School of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
D. Isah
Department of Haematology, School of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
A. A. Ngaski
Department of Chemical Pathology, School of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Dandofiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
N. A. Idris
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, General Hospital Maiyama, Maiyama Local Government, Kebbi State, Nigeria.
A. S. Ajayi
Department of Histopathology Service Laboratory, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria.
M. Isah
Department of Histopathology, School of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
M. Sirajo
Department of Histopathology, School of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
A. Abdulazeez
Department of Histopathology Service Laboratory, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria.
H. Abullahi
Department of Immunology, School of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: Histological stains are biological dyes which colour tissue in order to aid optical differentiation of tissue component. Dyes are coloured substance which impact colour for material such as textile, cosmetic, food, drugs, rubber plastics, hair, fur and tissues. There are two types of dyes namely; natural dyes and synthetic dyes. Allium cepa is an imperative, evergreen plant, which belongs to the family Amaryllidaceace commonly called bulb onion.
Aim: This research work aimed at evaluating the staining capability of onion extract as counter stain when haematoxylin was used as primary stain.
Methods: Tissue blocks sections of liver and kidney organs were made from the Wistar rat. Serial sections labelled A to M were made from each block and stained with Harris haematoxylin. Section A was counterstained with eosin, as control. Different preparations of extracts of the onion skin were used to counter stain sections of kidney and liver tissues. Group B to Mwere kidney and liver tissues stained as follows: B, E, H and K (5% aqueous and ethanolic extract with ferric chloride, 5% aqueous and ethanolic extract with potassium aluminium alum, and 5% aqueous and ethanolic extract without mordant, for 10 and 20 minutes). C, D, F, G, I, J, L and M (5% aqueous and ethanolic extract with ferric chloride, 5% aqueous and ethanolic extract with potassium aluminium alum and 5% aqueous and ethanolic extract without mordant for 10 and 20 minutes).
Results: The skin extract of Allium cepa stained the cytoplasm of cells and connective tissues in shades of reddish brown to yellowish brown. The study established the cytoplasmic counter-staining ability of the extract of Allium cepa.
Conclusion: It is therefore suggested that onion skin extract solution can be substituted for eosin due to its domestic availability, ease of preparation and above all, its good cytoplasm contrast with the nuclear stain.
Keywords: Staining, Allium cepa, tissues