African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 5 (22), pp. 2326-2328, 16 November 2006   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2006 Academic Journals        

Short Communication

The effect of some fixatives on the staining ability of Sorghum bicolor extracts on tissue sections

AVWIORO O. G.¹*, ALOAMAKA C. P.², ODUOLA T.³, KOMOLAFE A. O.⁴

¹Department of Histopathology, School of Medical Laboratory Science, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.

²Department of Physiology, College of Health Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria.

³Department of Haematology, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.

⁴Department of Histopathology, College of Health Sciencces, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Osun State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding Author’s E-mail: avwiorog@yahoo.com, Tel: 2348037149777.

Accepted 20 October, 2006

Abstract

The effect of some fixatives on the staining reactions of the extracts of Sorghum bicolor on tissue sections was studied in order to identify the most appropriate fixative for the stain. Tissue sections taken at postmortem were fixed in 10% formol saline, Carnoy’s fluid, Bouin’s fluid, Formol sublimate, Heidenhain’s susa and Zenker’s fixative. The sections were subsequently stained with Weigert’s haematoxylin and counterstained in acidified and neutral alcoholic extracts of S. bicolor. The staining reactions after the use of all fixatives were the same; collagen fibres, muscles and red blood cells were stained in shades of pinkish-yellow. The active staining constituent of S. bicolor had previously been described as apigeninidin, a type of flavonoid.

Key words: Sorghum bicolor, fixative, stain, flavonoid.