Methylene Blue trihydrate

Methylene Blue Trihydrate finds many uses in biology and chemistry, acting as a GCS inhibitor, biological stain, and redox indicator. Methylene Blue Trihydrate also inhibits tau filament formation, making it relevant to neurodegenerative disease research. Additionally, Methylene Blue Trihydrate is reported to bind to the M2 subtype of muscarinic receptors in rat cardiac myocytes and thus exhibit antimuscarinic effects. In clinical settings, Methylene Blue Trihydrate is used to treat methemoglobinemia by restoring normal hemoglobin function, as well as in surgical procedures to visualize tissues. Methylene Blue Trihydrate also has antimicrobial properties, making it useful in treating infections, and is studied for its neuroprotective effects in neurodegenerative diseases and its potential as a photosensitizer in cancer therapy.

 

Product Parameters

---

Parameter	Specification
Product Name	Methylene Blue Trihydrate
CAS Number	7220-79-3
Molecular Formula	C₁₆H₂₄ClN₃O₃S
Molecular Weight	373.87 g/mol
Appearance	Green solid
Melting Point	190 °C (dec.)(lit.)
Density	0.98 g/mL at 25 °C
Bulk Density	400–600 kg/m³
Flash Point	14 °C
pKa	2.6, 11.2 (at 25 °C)
Water Solubility	4 g/100 mL
Solubility	Soluble in water, chloroform; sparingly soluble in ethanol

 

Function

---

Methylene Blue Trihydrate was first synthesized as a zinc chloride salt in 1876 and has since been primarily used for the following purposes:

(1)Methemoglobinemia: Low concentrations of methylene blue are employed to treat methemoglobinemia caused by nitrites, chlorates, quinones, quinone imines, anilines, and nitrobenzenes;

 

(2)Cyanide poisoning: High concentrations of methylene blue can be administered for cyanide poisoning;

 

(3)Combined use with local anesthetics for localized analgesia;

 

(4) In recent years, it has also been clinically investigated for treating septic and traumatic shock, cancer, and herpes zoster. Pharmacological studies have demonstrated that methylene blue exhibits detoxifying, analgesic, antibacterial, antiviral, and antitumor effects, as well as the ability to correct hemodynamic disturbances in patients with septic shock and treat priapism.

 

Application

---

Methylene Blue Trihydrate is widely used in chemical indicators, dyes, biological stains, and pharmaceutical applications. Particularly in the dyeing industry, it is extensively employed in the production of inks and other products, with substantial consumption volumes. Additionally, methylene blue finds broad application in various other fields.

1. In the industrial field, methylene blue trihydrate belongs to the category of dye compounds. Industrial-grade methylene blue is commonly used for dyeing cotton, silk, paper, as well as for coloring bamboo and wood, and for manufacturing inks and color deposits. Additionally, it is frequently employed as a bacterial stain agent and indicator.

 

2. Methylene blue trihydrate has been utilized in the medical field for a long time. Due to its redox properties, it can be employed to treat poisoning by cyanide, nitrite, aniline, or acetylaniline, as well as methemoglobinemia caused by sulfonamide drugs. In recent years, researchers have also investigated the applications of methylene blue and its metabolites in various bacterial and viral infections, cancers, and central nervous system disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease.

 

3. In the field of aquaculture, methylene blue trihydrate serves as a disinfectant for aquatic products. Its mechanism involves the formation of an ionic compound in aqueous solution that competes with microbial enzyme systems for hydrogen ions, thereby inactivating enzymes and rendering microorganisms incapable of survival. It also exhibits therapeutic efficacy against fish diseases such as microcercosis, trichuriasis, red mouth disease, hydatidosis, and larvae necrosis disease in Penaeus vannamei. Additionally, it can be utilized as an antifungal agent to reduce mortality rates during fish transportation.

 

4. Studies in the field of skin care have demonstrated that methylene blue trihydrate (MTB) also exhibits significant potential for dermatological applications. Methylene blue can scavenge free radicals and stimulate cell proliferation in both young and aged dermal fibroblasts, thereby contributing to enhanced skin vitality, improved skin elasticity, promotion of collagen synthesis, and protection of the skin matrix through degradation by matrix metalloproteinases. Consequently, methylene blue holds promise as a valuable active ingredient in anti-aging cosmetics.

 

Hazard

---

Methylene blue trihydrate can cause Heinz body anemia, alterations in red blood cell morphology, and necrotic edema. It exhibits mutagenic properties; intravenous administration of doses exceeding 500 mg/kg may induce nausea, dizziness, and chest pain. Acute toxicity studies conducted on various aquatic species (including fish and shrimp) have demonstrated varying levels of toxicity, with even slight increases at certain concentrations leading to mass mortality. Therefore, methylene blue must be used strictly within its safe concentration range.

 

Contact Us

---

Looking for Methylene Blue Trihydrate for your staining, redox, or research applications? Cosperpharm has you covered — reach out today.