Potential of Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) extract as an alternative to Eosin for periperal blood smear / Patricia Arellano ; Phoebe Caballero ; Dominic Jason Cadag, Nelianne Catherine Cavan ; Bonifacio Coloma ; Divine Mericrisse De Guzman ; Angelo Huliganga ; Ainah Pancho ; Allysa Nicole Valledor and Anoop John Vayiledath.

Includes appendices and bibliographical references.

ABSTRACT: Eosin is routinely used as a counterstain for methylene blue in peripheral blood smear (PBS) in Wright's staining which is a Romanowsky type of differential staining standardly used in clinical laboratories. Due to its costliness and being a synthetic dye, eosin imposes irritation to skin surfaces as well as mucous membranes. This study devised a natural alternative counterstain which utilizes an ethanol-based Curcuma longa (turmeric) extract. This study aims to determine the potential or suitability of this counterstain using eosin as the standard one. This study employed an experimental comparative research design which compares eosin and C. longa's (turmeric) staining capacity and which determines the standpoint of C. longa extract. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) anticoagulated bloof samples less than a day old were used in this study. Upon staining the blood smears, C. longa (turmeric) stained smears were not sufficient enough in distinguishing among certain polymorphonuclear cells (eosinophils and neutrophils). Grade-wise, C. longa (turmeric) is less comparable with that of eosin thus, it cannot be used as an equal alternative or an implementable replacement in clinical laboratories. However, C. longa (turmeric) can be used as a substandard alternative with that of eosin if circumstances dictate that eosin cannot be made available.

Thesis - School of Medical Technology