ABSTRACT

Roselle is the common name for a mixture of anthocyanin dyes derived from the plant, Hibiscus sabdariffa. During the past two decades, a sizable, but conflicting, body of literature has supported the use of roselle as a biological stain, and more specifically as a substitute for hematoxylin for staining nuclei selectively. We review the literature and suggest a rational explanation for divergent findings. When used without oxidation and mordanting, roselle is an indiscriminate oversight stain. With appropriate oxidation and mordanting, roselle can be an effective nuclear stain. We propose here use of a stain that is formulated rationally and followed by treatment in a differentiating solution that also acts as a counterstain. We also offer suggestions for improving roselle for the general scientific community.

摘要

洛神花是从植物Hibiscus sabdariffa 中提取的花青素染料混合物的通用名称。在过去的二十年中，大量但相互矛盾的文献支持使用洛神花作为生物染色剂，更具体地说是作为苏木精的替代品，用于选择性染色细胞核。我们回顾了文献，并对不同的发现提出了合理的解释。当在没有氧化和媒染的情况下使用时，洛神花是一种不分青红皂白的疏忽污渍。通过适当的氧化和媒染，玫瑰茄可以成为有效的核染色剂。我们在此建议使用合理配制的染色剂，然后在差异化溶液中进行处理，该溶液也可用作复染色剂。我们还为一般科学界提供改进玫瑰茄的建议。