Dragon Fruit, Juwet, Kesumba and Mangosteen Extractions as Alternative Dyes for the Making of the Root Tip Onions (Allium cepa L.) Preparation

Staining is done to clarify preparations for chromosomes, so that the phases in the process of chromosomes can be observed and clearly differentiated. Making chromosome preparations requires good quality coloring agents. Exploration of the use of fruit extracts as an alternative natural coloring material that is cheap and has a high affinity for cell components is very important, so the use of natural dyes is expected to replace the standard dyes and the use of alternative dyes can suppress the cost of making preparations. Dyes that are often used in microscopic observations of chromosome preparations are haematoxylin or aceto-orcein. But the price is expensive, special storage is needed so it is not easily damaged. Therefore we need a replacement dye that has the same function as haematoxylin, namely an alternative coloring of fruit extract or fruit skin which contains high enough anthocyanin like red dragon fruit peel (Hylocereus polyrhizus (Weber) Britton & Rose), juwet fruit (Syzigium cumini (L.) Skeels.), Kesumba fruit (Bixa orellana L.) and mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.).