Cellulose is a macromolecular polysaccharide composed of glucose, serving as the primary component of plant cell walls. It is also the most widely distributed and abundant polysaccharide in nature, accounting for over 50% of the carbon content in the plant kingdom. Cotton fiber contains nearly 100% cellulose, making it the purest natural source of cellulose. In general wood, cellulose constitutes 40%–50%, along with 10%–30% hemicellulose and 20%–30% lignin. Cellulose often coexists with hemicellulose, pectin, and lignin. The manner and degree of their association significantly affect the texture of plant-based foods, while texture changes during plant maturation and post-harvest ripening are primarily caused by alterations in pectic substances. The human digestive tract lacks cellulase, making cellulose an important type of dietary fiber.
Plant Cellulose Staining Solution (Zinc Chloroiodide Method) is based on the colorimetric reaction of chlorine-zinc iodide. It stains cellulose violet-blue or blue, while lignin, cutin, and suberin appear orange-yellow. It is suitable for staining fresh tissue sections, as well as tissue sections fixed with ethanol or FAA fixative, or processed by freeze-drying. This product is intended for research use only and is not suitable for clinical diagnosis or other non-research purposes.
Materials to Be Prepared by User
- Fixatives: Ethanol, FAA Fixative
- Tissue materials: Fresh tissue sections, or tissue sections fixed with fixatives or processed by freeze-drying, etc.
- Glass slides, blades, or microtome
Procedure (For Reference Only)
1. Place the tissue section on a glass slide and immediately immerse it in the Plant Cellulose Staining Solution (Chlorine-Zinc Iodide Method) for staining.
2. After staining for 5 minutes, the section can be observed under a microscope. Longer staining times result in deeper colors.
Staining Results
| Target Component / Cell Wall Type | Color |
|---|
| Cell walls rich in cellulose or hemicellulose | Violet-blue to blue | | Cell walls rich in lignin, cutin, or suberin | Orange-yellow |
|
Notes
For tissue fixation, ethanol or FAA fixative is commonly used. Avoid using chromic acid fixatives.
If a microtome is unavailable, free-hand sectioning may be used, but thin and uniform tissue sections should be selected.
For your safety and health, please wear a lab coat and disposable gloves during operation.
Use the reagents as soon as possible after opening to avoid affecting subsequent experimental results.
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