A Modification of Staining Technique for Reticular Fibre Using the Aqueous Leaf Extracts of Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) As an Oxidizing Agent

Abstract

Background: Camellia sinensis leaves are a widely consumed health-derived beverage with abundant phytochemicals that confer antioxidant properties. Its application in the staining of biological tissues, on the other hand, could be harnessed and replace the toxic 
chemicals used in routine histological staining. This study compares the oxidizing and staining potential of Camellia sinensis aqueous leaf extracts with standard acidified potassium permanganate in reticulin fibre histological staining.   
Methods: A measured amount of 10g of ground Camellia sinensis (green tea) leaves was dissolved in 200 mL of distilled water and boiled to produce a brilliant green-coloured solution, which was immediately allowed to cool and filtered through Whatman's No.1 
filter paper under aseptic conditions to obtain the extract. The prefixed liver and kidney tissue in 10% neutral buffered formalin were histologically processed and sections obtained were stained using the modified Gordon and sweet method for demonstration 
of reticulin fibres at different oxidation periods of 15, 45 and 60 minutes respectively. Results: The histological architecture of reticulin, nuclear and cytoplasmic properties when compared with conventional Gordon and sweet methods revealed that aqueous leaf 
extract of Camellia sinensis possesses a strong oxidizing effect on tissues with an optimal demonstration of reticulin fibre obtained at oxidation timepoints of 60 minutes at room temperature.  
Conclusion: This study shows that the oxidative potential of Camellia sinensis can be harnessed and used as a replacement for acidified potassium permanganate in the demonstration of reticulin fibre using the conventional Gordon and sweet methods.