1. A reddish-brown crystalline compound derived from logwood, used as a dye and in microscopy as a stain.
Usage: chemistry; technical

Examples

• Hematein is commonly used in histology to stain tissue samples for microscopic examination.
• The dye hematein produces deep red and purple hues when applied to natural fibers.
• Researchers oxidize hematein to create hematoxylin, a more stable staining agent.
• Hematein was historically extracted from logwood trees in Central America.
• The chemical structure of hematein makes it useful in both textile and medical applications.