Kermes Dye Extract from Coccus Ilicis Insect as An Alternative Counter Stain Instead of Eosin in Various Tissue Constituents: An Experimental Study Download PDF

Kermes is one of the known oldest dyes. It is obtained from the bodies of an insect, Kermes ilices (formerly known as Coccus ilicis), and Kermes vermilio. It is chemically very similar to carmine and, as the older name indicates, the insects are related to those from which carmine is obtained. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Kermes dye as a counterstain after hematoxylin, and to compare its staining ability with that of routinely used Eosin dye. 0.5g and 1gm of kermes dye were respectively dissolved in 100 ml of D.W. The solution was used to stain different tissue structures and the result was compared with 0.5% and 1% eosin. It was revealed that kermes dye could be used as a counterstain after hematoxylin, its staining ability was also good and comparable to that of eosin dye with a special affinity for collagen and muscle fibers. Kermes dye could be used as a histological stain, which stains similar to eosin dye and its specific affinity for collagen and muscle fibers authenticates its role in the treatment of collagen and muscle disorder.