Assessment and Comparison of Natural Dyes Like Lawsonia inermis, Zingiber officinale, Curcuma longa, Beta vulgaris, Kumkum, and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis With Eosin as a Cytoplasmic Stain in Oral Histopathologies

Background Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining is a commonly used technique in histology and histopathology. However, the synthetic dye eosin poses risks to both human and animal health. The growing ecological concern has led to efforts to find natural, less toxic, biodegradable, and cost-effective alternatives to eosin. Aim This study aimed to compare and evaluate the staining characteristics of natural dyes as cytoplasmic stain to eosin as a standard in oral histopathologies. Materials and methods A total of 140 histological sections from four tissue types (normal mucosa, oral squamous cell carcinoma, ameloblastoma, and odontogenic cysts) were stained with natural dyes. The groups were divided based on the type of stain: Group A (<i>Lawsonia inermis</i>), Group B (<i>Zingiber officinale</i>), Group C (<i>Curcuma longa</i>), Group D (kumkum), Group E (<i>Hibiscus rosa-sinensis</i>), Group F (<i>Beta vulgaris</i>), and Group G (eosin as control). The staining intensity and nuclear and cytoplasmic detail were evaluated and compared using one-way ANOVA. A significance level of 0.01 was set for statistical analysis. Results One-way ANOVA revealed a significant difference in staining intensity across the seven groups (p=0.001). Eosin showed the highest mean staining intensity (15.85), followed by <i>Lawsonia inermis</i> (15.05), while <i>Hibiscus rosa-sinensis</i> and <i>Beta vulgaris</i> displayed the lowest values (7.9 and 8.4, respectively). Post-hoc analysis identified Group A (mean=15.05) shows no significant difference from the control suggesting that the staining performance of Group A is comparable to the control at (p<0.01). Conclusion The utilization of <i>Lawsonia inermis</i> as a natural dye in histopathological staining procedures has demonstrated promising results compared to other natural stains. Its ability to provide excellent contrast, detailed cellular and nuclear staining, and effective staining of acellular structures, comparable to eosin, underscores its potential as a viable alternative in diagnostic pathology.