What a wonderful and informative reply!!!!
Thanks,

Cynthia Favara
Rocky Mountain Laboratories
903 S 4th Street
Hamilton, MT 59840
ph: 406-363-9317
FAX: 406-363-9286
e-mail: cfavara@nih.gov


> ----------
> From: 	Kellar, Eric[SMTP:kellarec@MSX.UPMC.EDU]
> Sent: 	Tuesday, January 05, 1999 6:33 AM
> To: 	histonet@Pathology.swmed.edu; 'Neal E. Beeman'
> Subject: 	RE: brazilin
>
> The pods of several South American species of Caesalpinia, including C.
> brevifolia (algarobilla), C.
> coriaria (divi-divi) and C. spinosa (tara) yield an important source of
> natural tannins. The tannins react
> with collagen protein in animal skin, converting the skin into leather.
> The
> heartwood from a thorny South
> American tree called brazilwood (C. echinata) contains a red dye used for
> cotton, wool and inks. During
> the Middle Ages the main commercial source of this dye came from an Indian
> species (C. sappan), called
> "bresil" or "brasil" by Portuguese traders, is referring to the bright red
> heartwood. Early in the sixteenth
> century, Portuguese discovered the South American species and transferred
> the Old World name to
> it--eventually becoming known as brazilwood. In fact, brazilwood is the
> national tree and namesake of the
> country Brazil. Brazilwood is also highly prized for violin bows and is
> occasionally cultivated as an
> ornamental tree in southern California.
>
> In the early 1900's the red dye of brazilwood, called brazilin, was highly
> acclaimed as a nuclear stain in
> histological preparations and as an indicator in acid-base titrations. The
> dye becomes yellowish in acid
> solutions and carmine-red in alkaline solutions. Brasilin is similar in
> its
> properties and uses to hematoxylin,
> another dye from a Central American tree called logwood (Haematoxylon
> campechianum). Because of
> the striking red heartwood, logwood is also called "brasil" or "palo de
> tinta" in Mexico. The exportation of
> logwood was an important factor in the early settlement of British
> Honduras,
> known today as Belize.
>
> Brazilwood extract powder (#3616) and brazilwood, pernambuco, cut pieces
> (#3615) - sold in 100g or 1kg.
> Available from Kremer Pigments, Inc. NY, NY.
> 1-212-219-2394.
>
> Eric Kellar
> Histology/Immunohistochemistry
> University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
>
> 	----------
> 	From:  Neal E. Beeman [SMTP:beemanne@york.uchsc.edu]
> 	Sent:  Sunday, January 03, 1999 12:53 PM
> 	To:  histonet@Pathology.swmed.edu
> 	Subject:  brazilin
>
> 	Does anyone know where I could purchase a stain called brazilin also
> called
> 	natural red 24?
>
>
>