Research

Methylene Blue: A Potential Treatment for Brain Diseases and Cancer

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26603930/ Methylene blue (MB) is a medication that's been used for over a century to treat various health issues. Recent studies have found that MB can help improve the way our cells produce energy, especially in the mitochondria, which are the powerhouses of our cells. This improvement in energy production can be beneficial for treating brain diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, as well as certain types of cancer. MB works by enhancing mitochondrial function, reducing stress in cells, and promoting better overall cell performance. In the context of cancer, MB...

From Mitochondrial Function to Neuroprotection - PubMed Central https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5826781/ Methylene blue (MB) is a drug that has been used for many years to treat conditions like malaria and poisoning. Recently, scientists have found that it can help improve how our cells work, especially in the parts of the cell that create energy, called mitochondria. MB works by helping the mitochondria function better, which can reduce stress in cells and improve their ability to do their job. This has led to interest in using MB to help with brain health, as...

Methylene Blue Improves Mitochondrial Function in Human Fibroblasts https://www.fasebj.org/doi/10.1096/fj.07-8560com This laboratory study investigated methylene blue's effects on mitochondrial function in human fibroblast cells. The researchers discovered that methylene blue enhances mitochondrial complex activity, particularly complexes I-IV, and increases cellular oxygen consumption, indicating improved mitochondrial respiration efficiency. These effects were observed at nanomolar concentrations, suggesting high potency for biological applications2. The study provides mechanistic insight into how methylene blue might exert its clinical benefits across various conditions. By enhancing mitochondrial function and cellular energetics, methylene blue may address a common pathophysiological...

TRx0237 Phase III Clinical Trials in Alzheimer's Disease https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01689246 TauRx Pharmaceuticals conducted phase III studies of TRx0237, a methylene blue derivative with enhanced pharmaceutical properties. The first study involved 891 patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease who received either 75 mg or 125 mg twice daily, or a control dose of 4 mg TRx0237 (to maintain blinding through urine discoloration) for 15 months. While the primary analysis showed no significant impact on cognition or function, a secondary analysis focusing on patients taking the drug as monotherapy revealed significant treatment benefits2. In...

Phase II Trial of Methylene Blue in Alzheimer's Disease https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5209349/ This 24-week phase II clinical trial involved 321 patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease who were not taking acetylcholinesterase inhibitors or memantine. For patients with moderate Alzheimer's, a nominal dose of 138 mg/day (administered as 60 mg tablets three times daily) improved cognition significantly, with ADAS-cog scores dropping by 1 point from baseline, representing a 5.42-point improvement compared to placebo2. Improvements were also observed in ADCS-CGIC and MMSE scores relative to placebo and baseline measurements. Patients with mild Alzheimer's showed improvements...

Methylene Blue: Revisited - Applications in Vasoplegia and Hypotension https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3087269/ This comprehensive review examines methylene blue's various medical applications, particularly focusing on its role in treating hypotension associated with different clinical states. The authors discuss how methylene blue, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase and guanylate cyclase, improves hypoxia and hyperdynamic circulation in conditions such as cirrhosis of the liver and severe hepatopulmonary syndrome, as well as improving blood pressure and cardiac function in septic shock3. A significant portion of the review addresses methylene blue's efficacy in treating catecholamine-refractory vasoplegia,...

https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2014.13101407 This innovative randomized controlled trial examined the effects of low-dose methylene blue (260 mg or 4 mg/kg per day) on fear extinction in 42 subjects with claustrophobia. The researchers found that methylene blue administration improved fear extinction at one-month follow-up assessment, suggesting potential applications in treating anxiety disorders through memory consolidation mechanisms2. Additionally, the treatment enhanced contextual memory independent of its effects on fear extinction. This study provides evidence that methylene blue may have applications in anxiety-related conditions through its effects on memory consolidation and fear processing, potentially offering...

Multimodal Randomized Functional MR Imaging of the Effects of Methylene Blue in the Human Brain (2016) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27875954/ This randomized controlled trial investigated methylene blue's effects on cognitive function in 26 healthy subjects aged 22-62 years. Participants receiving a low dose (280 mg or approximately 4 mg/kg) of methylene blue demonstrated increased insular fMRI activity during sustained attention and short-term memory tasks compared to those receiving placebo, providing direct neuroimaging evidence of methylene blue's effects on brain function2. The treatment group also showed significantly improved memory retrieval, with a 7% enhancement...

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-02419-3 This groundbreaking study investigated methylene blue's effects on skin aging, demonstrating its potency as a reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger in cultured human skin fibroblasts from both healthy donors and patients with progeria, a genetic premature aging disease. The researchers found that methylene blue was more effective than other widely used antioxidants in stimulating skin fibroblast proliferation and delaying cellular senescence, establishing its potential as an anti-aging compound for dermatological applications1. When applied to a 3D reconstructed human skin model, methylene blue significantly improved skin viability, promoted wound healing,...