Mineral Oil—A Biofriendly Substitute for Xylene in Deparaffinization: A Novel Method

“…[1,2] Owing to this, there has been a continuous search for bio-safe substitutes for xylene. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Any attempt to reduce the health hazards in histopathology laboratories provides scope for a trial. Hence, this study was attempted to assess the role of bleached vegetable oil (palm oil) as a suitable alternative to xylene in processing of oral mucosal tissues.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are striving attempts reported in English literature, searching for biosafe alternatives for this sweet-smelling toxic substance; Mineral oil mixture, vegetable oil, cedar wood oil, and liquid dish washing soap are a few to name. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Vegetable oils like palm oil are saturated fat that exist as semisolids at room temperature. [10] Conversion of a vegetable or plant-based food into oil involves complicated chemical process.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bleached vegetable oil as a suitable bio-safe alternative to xylene: An exploratory study

Madhura¹,

Bhavana²,

Kumar³

et al. 2016

JCRI

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Xylene is used as a clearing and dewaxing agent during routine tissue processing in histopathology laboratories. Despite its excellent clearing property, xylene is associated with adequate amount of toxicity. Therefore, various substitutes for xylene such as mineral oil and vegetable oil mixtures have been explored and are well documented in English literature. Aims and Objectives: This study had aimed at assessing the efficacy of bleached vegetable oil as a clearing and a dewaxing agent. The objectives were to compare the clearing ability of bleached vegetable oil with that of xylene. Materials and Methods: A total of 12 normal oral mucosal samples (n = 12) were cut into pairs forming two groups -Group A tissues (n = 12) were processed in xylene and Group B tissues (n = 12) were processed in bleached vegetable (palm) oil. The parameters such as transparency of the tissues, nuclear and cytoplasmic staining were assessed between the two groups. Results: Tissues from both the study groups were transparent and had yielded good serial sections; adequate nuclear and cytoplasmic staining was observed in 91.7% of sections treated with bleached palm oil.

show abstract

“…[ 3 4 ] Occupational safety and health administration (OSHA) regulation identified xylene as a biohazardous chemical and the need for a safer nontoxic substitute increases. [ 5 ]…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Premalatha et al . [ 5 ] also used mineral oil as a deparaffinizing agent and Ananthaneni et al [ 9 ] attempted to use lemon water as a dewaxing agent.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biofriendly substitutes for xylene in deparaffinization

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A BSTRACT Background: Xylene is an aromatic hydrocarbon that is routinely used in histopathological laboratories. It is biohazardous and produces many toxic effects like carcinogenesis. A safer substitute for xylene is necessary to minimize its usage. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of 1.7% dishwashing solution, 95% lemon water, and 100% coconut oil when compared to xylene as a deparaffinizing agent during hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Materials and Methods: Fifteen paraffin-embedded tissue blocks were selected. Four sections were made from each block. One section was stained with conventional H&E method using xylene (group A) as deparaffinizing agent and other three sections were stained with xylene-free H&E method using 1.7% dishwashing solution (group B), 95% lemon water (group C), and 100% coconut oil (group D), respectively. Slides were scored blindly by a single pathologist considering the parameters such as nuclear and cytoplasmic staining; uniformity, clarity, and crispness of staining; and presence or absence of wax retention. Results: Adequate nuclear staining was noted in 100% of sections of groups A, B, C, and D ( P < 0.001), whereas adequate cytoplasmic staining was noted in 93.33% each in groups A, C, and D when compared with 100% in group B ( P > 0.05). Uniform staining was present in 80% of groups A and B and in 73.33% of groups C and D ( P > 0.05). Clarity of staining was present in 86.66% of groups A and B and in 80% of groups C and D ( P > 0.05), whereas crispness of staining was seen in 73.33% of groups A and D, 86.66% of group B, and 80% of group C ( P > 0.05). Wax retention was noted in 20% of groups A and B, and 26.66% of groups C and D ( P > 0.05). Adequate staining for diagnosis was noted in 100% of group A sections followed by 93.33% in group B, 86.66% in group C, and 80% in group D as compared with 90% in group B ( P > 0.05). Conclusion: Dishwashing solution, lemon water, and coconut oil can be used as safer and cost-effective substitutes to xylene for deparaffinization in H&E staining procedure.

show abstract

Mineral Oil—A Biofriendly Substitute for Xylene in Deparaffinization: A Novel Method

Abstract: The study recommends refined mineral oil as a biofriendly and effective xylene substitute in deparaffinization of tissue sections.

Cited by 20 publications

References 10 publications

Evaluation of biosafe alternatives as xylene substitutes in hematoxylin and eosin staining procedure: A comparative pilot study

Evaluation of biosafe alternatives as xylene substitutes in hematoxylin and eosin staining procedure: A comparative pilot study

Bleached vegetable oil as a suitable bio-safe alternative to xylene: An exploratory study

Biofriendly substitutes for xylene in deparaffinization

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About