Use of Genipin as a Natural Amino Acid Based Fingerprint Enhancing Reagent and Comparison with Frequently Used Ninhydrin

Genipin is a natural product obtained directly from Genipa americana and after the hydrolysis of iridoid glycoside called Geniposide, found in the fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis (Rubiaceae). It is colourless but generates dark blue pigment spontaneously on reacting with amino acids. It has recently been investigated as a fingerprint enhancement reagent on absorptive surfaces. Genipin also exhibits high luminescence characteristics at 590 nm excitation and 635 nm emission wavelength without further treatment. Studies have indicated that it provides better quality prints than the most frequently used fingerprint reagents, ninhydrin on papers of high luminescent background, and moreover it is eco-friendly. Because ninhydrin has various toxic effects on mammals, we suggest Genipin can act as a potential substitute of ninhydrin in near future. The scope of this article covers the above short discussion in detailed manner while reviewing the recent research works done in past.