Methylene Blue

Methylene Blue (MB) was the first artificially synthesized drug. Originally used for textile dyeing, it is now widely used in surgical marking, malaria treatment, methemoglobinemia treatment, etc. In recent years, it has been found to have the function of antioxidant, which can improve mitochondrial function and delay aging-related pathological processes.
MB is a reversible redox agent that can interconvert between the oxidized form (blue) and the reduced form (colorless). It is hydrophilic and lipophilic, and can enter biological membranes and mitochondria. The main mechanisms of action are to bypass complexes I and III of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC), reduce the production of ROS, increase cytochrome oxidase activity and ATP synthesis, relieve oxidative stress, and break the vicious cycle between ROS and mitochondrial damage.
In terms of brain aging, MB can cross the blood-brain barrier, improve the mitochondrial function of nerve cells, reduce ROS production, inhibit the inhibition of cytochrome oxidase by nitric oxide (NO), and improve brain metabolism.
In terms of skin aging, MB can delay skin aging by removing ROS, promoting fibroblast proliferation, and increasing collagen and elastin expression. It has also been found to have ultraviolet absorption in a wide range of spectra. The absorption can reduce DNA damage caused by UVB, promote wound healing, and have better anti-aging effects than vitamin C and retinol.
MB has broad application prospects in delaying aging and has a positive impact on the improvement of neurodegenerative diseases, skin aging, and premature aging disorders.

Fig. 1 Effects of Methylene Blue in delaying skin aging. (Xue H.; et al. 2021)