Orcein and saffron have both been used in published methods for years, but 
these are the only two natural dyes which come to mind. I know there are 
books out there on using natural dyes for coloring textiles (a part of the 
post-sixties, hippy thing),but I have never seen any published papers on 
using them for tissues.
Many years ago I recall experimenting with a number of natural juices as 
hematoxylin substitutes. Elderberry and blackberry, when mordanted with 
potassium alum, made a very acceptable nuclear stain. Elderberry also makes 
a very nice wine ... so maybe you can kill two birds with one stone.




>From: Allan Betts 
>To: "'histonet@pathology.swmed.edu'" 
>Subject: Histology dyes and foodstuffs
>Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2002 12:52:17 +0000
>
>Can anyone help me with this project question.
>The use of foodstuffs/juices (i.e beetroot, carrot) as a histological dye.
>Are there any papers/articles.
>Thanks,
>Gareth
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