Health Advisor

Methylene blue (MB), also known as methylthioninium chloride, is a bioactive substance and a blue dye. Methylene blue (MB), as the first fully man-made medicine, has a wide range of clinical applications. Apart from its well-known FDA approved applications in surgical staining, malaria, and methemoglobinemia, the anti-oxidative properties of MB recently brought new attention to this century-old drug. Some researchers believe that it can directly improve cellular and mitochondrial function and decrease the production of proteins linked to Alzheimer’s. It is also being studied for its potential to inhibit monoamine oxidase (MAO), nitric oxide (NO) synthase, and guanylate cyclase [ Rojas, 2013 ,  Tucker, 2017 ]. Mitochondrial Mechanisms During brain aging, mitochondrial dysfunction has been associated with neuronal loss. It has also been observed in many brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and brain injuries [ Nitzan, 2019 ...

What Is Methylene Blue?  Methylene blue is the parent molecule for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, off-patent drugs commonly used to treat not only malaria but also COVID-19. Best known as a fish tank antiseptic and textile dye for blue jeans, it was actually the first synthetic drug in modern history, developed in 1876. Since then, we’ve discovered it has many really important medicinal benefits. The first medical application of methylene blue was for malaria. In 1890, Paul Ehrlich, a scientist at the famous Charité Hospital in Berlin, Germany, discovered methylene blue inhibits an enzyme that weakens the malaria parasite. One of the first antipsychotic medications was also made from methylene blue. Other drugs developed from or with it include antibiotics and antiseptics. In the past, it was commonly used to treat urinary tract infections. It’s also been used as an antiviral agent in blo...