Methylene Blue

Methylene blue, or methylthioninium chloride, is a synthetic dye first developed in the nineteenth century that has a long clinical history as a treatment for methemoglobinemia and cyanide poisoning.

At low concentrations it acts as an alternative electron carrier in the mitochondria, shuttling electrons from NADH directly to cytochrome c and boosting complex IV activity, which helps sustain ATP production while lowering reactive oxygen species.

This mitochondrial and antioxidant activity is the basis for ongoing research into its neuroprotective potential in models of Alzheimer’s disease, tauopathies, and ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Studies continue to explore how this redox mechanism supports mitochondrial resilience and cognitive function.