<![CDATA[Staining is an important step in cytological examination to enhance the visualization of cell morphology. Rosella flower (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) contains anthocyanin pigments that have the potential to be used as a natural dye to replace eosin in the Diff-Quick staining method. This study aimed to determine the potential of rosella flower extract as a natural cytological dye to replace eosin in the Diff-Quick staining method. This study employed a Quasi-Experimental Laboratory method with a Posttest-Only Control Group Design, using rosella extract at concentrations of 5%, 10%, and 20%, with six repetitions for each treatment, and 1% eosin as the positive control. Staining quality was assessed based on color contrast, clarity of cell morphology, and background color. The results showed that rosella flower extract tested positive for anthocyanin. The mean staining scores for concentrations of 5%, 10%, and 20% were 5.00, 6.33, and 7.67, respectively, while the Diff-Quick control had a mean score of 9.00. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed a significant difference among the groups (p<0.05), while the Mann-Whitney test showed that the 20% concentration remained significantly different from the Diff-Quick control (p=0.002). Rosella flower extract was able to stain oral mucosal epithelial cells, with the 20% concentration producing the best staining results among the concentrations tested; however, it did not achieve staining quality comparable to that of the Diff-Quick method.]]>
