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M9140

Methylene blue

Name: Methylene blue
Brand: SIAL

Dye content, ≥82%, certified by the Biological Stain Commission, powder

Synonym(s):

Basic Blue 9, 3,7-bis(Dimethylamino)phenazathionium chloride, Tetramethylthionine chloride

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About This Item

Empirical Formula (Hill Notation):

C₁₆H₁₈ClN₃S · xH₂O

CAS Number:

122965-43-9

Molecular Weight:

319.85 (anhydrous basis)

UNSPSC Code:

12171500

NACRES:

NA.47

PubChem Substance ID:

24897317

EC Number:

200-515-2

MDL number:

MFCD00150006

Colour Index Number:

52015

Beilstein/REAXYS Number:

3599847

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Properties

Product Name

Methylene blue, certified by the BSC

agency

certified by the BSC

form

powder

composition

Dye content, ≥82%

technique(s)

microbe id | staining: suitable

color

dark green

solubility

H₂O: 4mg/4ml

application(s)

diagnostic assay manufacturing
hematology
histology

storage temp.

room temp

SMILES string

CN(C)C1=CC=C2C(SC(C3=N2)=CC(C=C3)=[N+](C)C)=C1.[H]O[H].[Cl-]

InChI

1S/C16H18N3S.ClH.H2O/c1-18(2)11-5-7-13-15(9-11)20-16-10-12(19(3)4)6-8-14(16)17-13;;/h5-10H,1-4H3;1H;1H2/q+1;;/p-1

InChI key

WQVSELLRAGBDLX-UHFFFAOYSA-M

Gene Information

human ... CYP1A2(1544), GSR(2936)

Description

General description

Methylene blue is a compound that occurs as crystals or crystalline powder, having a bronze-like luster. It is soluble in water, chloroform and partially soluble in alcohol. It is a photoactive dye, which is a member of phenothiazine family.

Application

Methylene blue has been used:

to stain vaginal cells
for the preparation of protein aqueous ink
to evaluate cell survival by staining

Certified for use in Mallory′s phloxine-methylene blue stain; Levine & Black stain for bacteria in milk; Wright stain for blood smears.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Methylene blue is used as a bacteriologic stain or dye and indicator. It mediates the inactivation of enveloped viruses in plasma, when exposed to visible light. It is an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase and guanylate cyclase. It also plays a key role in medicine as an antimalarial agent, reducing agent in methemoglobinemia and inducer of apoptosis in cancer cells.