What is methylene blue ?
Methylene blue is a dye that is used among other things in microbiology for tinting of preparations. Methylene blue is a redox indicator and a good hydrogen-acceptor.
Methylene blue was first synthesized in 1876 by the German chemist Heinrich Caro.
Applications
A property of methylene blue is that a dead cell is colored and not a living. It is very well absorbed by clay substances and organic substances.
Methylene blue can also be used to mold and parasitic protozoa (such as white dot in aquaria) kill, often in combination with Malachite Green and formaldehyde (formalin).
Methylene blue was the first chemical compound that was used as medicine. It was used against malaria. However, it was not liked by the soldiers because of urine and the discoloration of the whites of the eyes.
In the surgery is methylene blue used to detect any seam leaks and fistulas after surgeries to or disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, such as a gastric bypass or gastric sleeve but also in operations to the duodenum or in severe pancreatitis with Fistula formation. This requires that the patient drink a small amount of methylene blue or getting this administered by gavage. In case of leakage of the gastrointestinal tract is the blue dye in a drain to see (wound). Furthermore, the in the intestine and excreted through the kidneys, causing the urine green to blue.
A recent and still experimental medical use of methylene blue is the treatment of severe blood pressure drop at sepsis (blood poisoning). This blood pressure drop is caused by disturbance of the nitric oxide metabolism in the smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells of the artery wall, where the nitric oxide (NO) is responsible for relaxation of the vessel wall. This relaxation leads to blood pressure drop. Nitric oxide management disruption comes about under the influence of various stress-enzymes.
The effect of methylene blue is based on antagonistic effect on nitric oxide receptors, inhibiting the action of the enzyme guanylate Cyclase (an enzyme that the conversion of cyclic Guanosine monophosphate to Guanosine triphosphate, an important secondary Messenger in metabolic processes in the cell, catalyzes) and the direct scavenging of nitric oxide. Because it is the vascular tension-regulating affects the entire vascular system may result in decreased blood flow to the liver and the kidneys. Additional therapy to prevent damage to these vital organs is applied.