title: Staining of Platyhelminthes by herbal dyes: An eco-friendly technique for the taxonomist.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An environment compatible technique to stain Platyhelminthes, Fasciola gigantica, Gastrothylax crumenifer, Taenia solium, and Moniezia expansa using aqueous and alcoholic extract of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris), China rose (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), and red rose (Rosa hybrida) were described to minimized the deleterious effects of the synthetic dyes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aqueous/ethanolic extracts of roses were extracted from the flowers while red beet was extracted from the roots.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stained helminthes acquired a comparable level of pigmentation with the distinction of their internal structure in these natural dyes. The flukes (liver and rumen) internal structure, oral and ventral/posterior sucker, cirrus sac, gravid uterus, testes, ovary, and vitallaria were appeared pink color in aqueous and alcoholic extract of either China or red rose and yellow to brown color in sugar beet stain. The interior of the proglottid of T. solium and M. expansa took yellow to brown color with good contrast in sugar beet stain and of pink to pink-red in China and red rose stain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The extract of roses (red rose followed by China rose) followed by red beet possess the potential to replace the conventional stains in the taxonomic study of Platyhelminthes parasites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Vanbandhu Veterinary College, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari - 396 450, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Niranjan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Vanbandhu Veterinary College, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari - 396 450, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Jadav
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mehul
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Vanbandhu Veterinary College, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari - 396 450, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Bhupamani
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Vanbandhu Veterinary College, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari - 396 450, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Solanki
keywords: Platyhelminthes; herbal dyes; rose; sugar beet