Efficacy of Kumkum as an herbal counterstain in the microscopic analysis of oral lesions.

Aim: Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining is routinely used for histopathological evaluation in oral pathology. However, eosin, a synthetic dye, may pose environmental and occupational safety concerns. Kumkum, a traditional herbal preparation, exhibits biocompatible properties and may serve as a potential natural counterstain. This study aimed to evaluate the staining efficacy of Kumkum in comparison with eosin in oral tissue sections. Materials and Methods: Forty formalin fixed, paraffin embedded oral tissue specimens were sectioned and stained using two protocols: Group A with standard H&E staining, and Group B with haematoxylin and Kumkum (H&K). Kumkum stain was prepared from commercially available organic powder using an ethanolic extraction method. Two blinded oral pathologists independently assessed cytoplasmic clarity, nuclear detail, and overall staining quality using semi quantitative scoring criteria. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi square test with a significance level of Results: The H&K technique demonstrated improved cytoplasmic clarity (χ Conclusion: Kumkum exhibited effective counterstaining properties in oral histopathological sections and may serve as a natural, safe, and cost-effective alternative to eosin. Further studies evaluating long-term archival stability and protocol standardisation are recommended before routine implementation.