INTRODUCTION
Methylene blue (MB), a basic thiazine dye has been used clinically for about a century to treat numerous ailments. Primarily used in the treatment of methemoglobinemia, as an antidote in cyanide poisoning, as a biological stain, and as an oxidant-reduction indicator.
The intravenous form of MB is approved by the FDA for the treatment of pediatric and adult patients with acquired methemoglobinemia. MB is an investigational drug being developed by the University of Aberdeen and TauRx Therapeutics that has been shown in early clinical trials to be an inhibitor of Tau protein aggregation. The drug is also of potential interest for the treatment of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
| Synonyms | Methylthioninium chloride Basic blue 9 (C.I. 52015) |
| CAS no. | 122965-43-9 (hydrate) 7220-79-3 (trihydrate) 61-73-4 (anhydrous) |
| EINECS no. | 602-909-3 (hydrate) 615-731-6 (trihydrate) 200-515-2 (anhydrous) |
| Molecular formula | C16H18N3S.Cl.xH2O |
| Molecular weight | 337.90 (hydrate & trihydrate) 319.85 (anhydrous) |
| Structure |  |
MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
| Methemoglobinemia | MB is employed as a medication for the treatment of methemoglobinemia |
| Combined with light | MB combined with light has been used to treat resistant plaque psoriasis |
| Urinary tract infection | MB is a component of a urinary analgesic/anti-infective/anti-spasmodic known as “Prosed DS”, a combination of phenyl salicylate, benzoic acid, hyoscyamine sulfate, and methenamine (aka hexamethylenetetramine and not to be confused with ‘methanamine’) |
| Cyanide poisoning | Since its reduction potential is similar to that of oxygen and can be reduced by components of the electron transport chain, large doses of methylene blue are sometimes used as an antidote to potassium cyanide poisoning |
| Dye or stain | MB is used in endoscopic polypectomy as an adjunct to saline or epinephrine and is used for injection into the submucosa around the polyp to be removed |
| Placebo | MB has been used as a placebo; physicians would tell their patients to expect their urine to change color and view this as a sign that their condition had improved |
| Ifosfamide toxicity | Another use of methylene blue is to treat Ifosfamide neurotoxicity |
| Shock | It has also been used in septic shock and anaphylaxis |
OTHER APPLICATIONS
| Redox indicator | MB is widely used as a redox indicator in analytical chemistry |
| Peroxide generator | MB is also a photosensitizer used to create singlet oxygen when exposed to both oxygen and light |
| Biological staining | In biology MB is used as a dye for number of different staining procedures, such as Wright’s stain and Jenner’s stain. Since it is a temporary staining technique, MB can also be used to examine RNA or DNA under the microscope or in a gel |
| Aquaculture | MB is used in aquaculture and by tropical fish hobbyists as a treatment for fungal infections |
Modes of action of Methylene Blue in SARS-CoV-2 infection complications (as per the current ongoing studies. Concrete data to be available soon)
| It inhibits SARS-CoV-2 spike ACE2 protein – protein interaction |
| To treat Cytokinin Storm which is one of the major reason for ADRs, Multiorgan Failure & Mortality |
| It relieves oxidative stress, ROS and free radicals |
| It increases systemic vascular resistance (SVR) in septic shock |
| It causes antifibrotic action in lungs |
SPECIFICATIONS
MB offered by Exsyn complies USP & EP pharmacopeia. Please ask our sourcing team if you need detailed specifications.
WRITTEN CONFIRMATION (WC)
ExSyn offers MB with WC certification, so it can be sold to the EU as an API for human consumption.
STORAGE
Temporary storage temperature is below 30°C
Long term storage temperature is 5°C ± 3°C
ExSyn offers MB on commercial scale and welcomes enquiries. No matter the quantity you need, our exceptional quality and service will make ExSyn your supplier of choice! If you need any additional information or SDS, please get in touch with us.
Guanidine carbonate is a white, crystalline, water-soluble compound with an alkaline and ionic nature. Composed of guanidinium cations and carbonate anions, it offers chemical stability, buffering capacity, and good formulation compatibility. In textile applications, it is used in formulations and fabric treatments for its thickening, softening, lubricating, anti-static, and flame-retardant properties, contributing to improved fabric finish and performance.
Tin(II) sulfide (SnS) has emerged as a safe and sustainable semiconductor owing to its non-toxicity, low cost, and natural abundance. It has attracted significant interest for solar energy conversion in thin-film photovoltaic devices because of its suitable band gap, which is approximately 1.3 eV in the orthorhombic phase and 1.5-1.7 eV in the cubic phase. In addition to photovoltaic applications, SnS is used in solid-state lubricants, near-infrared detectors, Lithium-ion batteries, and various sensing devices.
Nikethamide is a synthetic organic compound derived from nicotinic acid (vitamin B₃). It consists of a pyridine ring linked to a diethyl amide functional group and belongs to the class of pyridine amide derivatives.
(2-Methoxy-1-methyl-2-oxoethyl)triphenylphosphonium bromide is a stabilized phosphonium salt widely used as an intermediate in organic synthesis. Due to presence of an ester group, the compound generates a stabilized ylide that is particularly useful for synthesizing α, β-unsaturated esters, valuable intermediates in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, fragrances, and fine chemicals.
p-tert-Butylphenol (PTBP), is an aromatic organic compound consists of a phenol ring substituted with a tert-butyl group at the para (4-) position, giving it improved thermal stability and hydrophobic properties compared to phenol. PTBP features significant hydrogen bonding capabilities, which enhance its solubility in organic solvents. PTBP is used primarily as an intermediate in the manufacturing of polycarbonate plastics, phenolic resins, and epoxy resins.
Yttrium oxide (Y2O3), also known as yttria, is an air-stable, odorless white powder. It is a highly stable, chemically inert ceramic with a very high melting point. It is insoluble in water but readily dissolves in most strong acids. Increasing the specific surface area and porosity of Y2O3 can further improve its relevant physical and chemical properties.
Ethyl 7,7,7-trifluoro-3-hydroxy-3-methylheptanoate is a fluorinated aliphatic hydroxy ester. The presence of the trifluoromethyl group imparts enhanced metabolic stability, lipophilicity, and unique physicochemical properties compared with non-fluorinated analogues. This compound is primarily used as a synthetic intermediate in pharmaceutical and agrochemical research.
2-Chloro-1,1,1-trimethoxyethane is an organochlorine orthoester compound commonly used as a versatile synthetic intermediate in organic and pharmaceutical chemistry. It is a colorless to pale yellow liquid with good reactivity toward nucleophilic substitution and cyclization reactions, making it valuable in the preparation of heterocyclic and bioactive molecules.
Glycolaldehyde dimer is the cyclic dimeric form of glycolaldehyde, the simplest hydroxyaldehyde. Glycolaldehyde is often supplied as stable dimeric solid, commonly identified as 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-dioxane.