Product name: Methylene Blue — Paragon Pharmatech 20 mg Capsules
Strength per capsule: 20 mg Methylene Blue (pharmaceutical grade)
Capsules per bottle: 60 vegetarian capsules
Other names: Methylthioninium chloride; Tetramethylthionine chloride; Basic Blue 9; Phenothiazinium dye; MB
CAS number: 61-73-4
Molecular formula / weight: C16H18ClN3S, 319.85 g·mol⁻¹
Chemical class / structure: Phenothiazine derivative; heterocyclic aromatic ring containing sulfur and nitrogen atoms; cationic thiazine dye with delocalized π-electron system responsible for redox activity.
PubChem CID: 6099
InChIKey: CXKWCBBOMKCUKX-UHFFFAOYSA-M

10 Strong Points & Benefits 

1. Clinically established medical use: Methylene Blue is an FDA‑approved treatment for methemoglobinemia, demonstrating well-characterized pharmacology and clinical efficacy.

2. Mitochondrial electron carrier: Acts as an alternative electron carrier in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, improving cellular respiration under oxidative stress conditions.

3. Neuroprotective potential: Experimental and early clinical studies suggest benefits in neurodegenerative disease models, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinsonian syndromes.

4. Potent antioxidant and redox cycling agent: Reduces reactive oxygen species and supports mitochondrial efficiency in ischemia and toxin-exposure models.

5. Cognitive performance research: Low-dose studies in healthy adults have demonstrated improvements in memory retention and attention in controlled settings.

6. Antimicrobial and antiviral activity: Demonstrates broad antimicrobial properties and has been used in photodynamic therapy and blood product sterilization.

7. Hemodynamic support in vasoplegia: Used clinically in refractory vasodilatory shock due to nitric oxide synthase inhibition.

8. Well-characterized pharmacokinetics: Oral absorption, hepatic metabolism, and renal excretion are well studied, enabling reliable dosing in research contexts.

9. Long history of medical use: Over a century of clinical experience provides extensive safety and toxicology data.

10. GMP manufacturing feasibility: Chemically stable and easily analyzed via HPLC or LC‑MS, ensuring consistent purity and potency.

Overview

Methylene Blue is a synthetic phenothiazine compound first synthesized in 1876 and introduced into clinical medicine in the late nineteenth century. Initially used as a textile dye, it soon gained importance as one of the earliest synthetic drugs, including use in malaria treatment and diagnostic staining. Today, its most established medical indication is treatment of methemoglobinemia, where it restores hemoglobin’s oxygen‑carrying capacity.

Interest in Methylene Blue has expanded significantly due to its role in mitochondrial biology and neuroprotection. The compound can shuttle electrons between NADH and cytochrome c, bypassing damaged components of the respiratory chain and improving ATP production. This mechanism has generated substantial research into its use in neurodegenerative diseases, traumatic brain injury, and cognitive enhancement.

Beyond mitochondrial effects, Methylene Blue modulates nitric oxide signaling, inhibits guanylate cyclase, and influences inflammatory pathways. These actions underpin clinical uses in vasoplegic shock and research into septic shock and ischemia‑reperfusion injury.

Paragon Pharmatech manufactures pharmaceutical‑grade Methylene Blue capsules containing 20 mg per capsule under controlled GMP‑aligned conditions with full identity, purity, and potency testing.

How It Works (Mechanisms & Pharmacology)

1. Redox Cycling and Mitochondrial Function

Methylene Blue acts as a reversible redox agent. In its oxidized form, it accepts electrons from NADH and donates them to cytochrome c, bypassing complexes I and III when impaired. This mechanism improves mitochondrial efficiency and reduces electron leakage that would otherwise generate reactive oxygen species.

2. Methemoglobinemia Treatment Mechanism

In methemoglobinemia, hemoglobin iron is oxidized to Fe3+, which cannot bind oxygen. Methylene Blue is reduced to leukomethylene blue, which then reduces methemoglobin back to hemoglobin via NADPH-dependent pathways.

3. Nitric Oxide and cGMP Modulation

Methylene Blue inhibits soluble guanylate cyclase and nitric oxide synthase activity, reducing excessive vasodilation. This property explains its effectiveness in vasoplegic shock.

4. Neuroprotective Mechanisms

Research indicates several mechanisms contributing to neuroprotection:

• Reduction of oxidative stress

• Stabilization of mitochondrial membranes

• Inhibition of tau protein aggregation

• Enhancement of cerebral glucose uptake

5. Pharmacokinetics

Orally administered Methylene Blue is well absorbed, with peak plasma concentrations occurring within 1–2 hours. It distributes widely in tissues, including the central nervous system. Metabolism occurs primarily in the liver, and elimination is via urine, which may turn blue or green.

What Studies Have Shown 

Methemoglobinemia

Clinical trials and decades of clinical experience demonstrate rapid normalization of oxygen saturation following intravenous or oral administration of Methylene Blue in methemoglobinemia patients.

Cognitive and Neurodegenerative Research

Randomized controlled trials have shown that low-dose Methylene Blue improves memory retention and brain activity patterns in functional MRI studies. Research into Alzheimer’s disease has demonstrated reduced tau aggregation and slower cognitive decline in early-phase trials of related compounds.

Mitochondrial and Oxidative Stress Research

Animal studies show improved survival and reduced neuronal injury in models of stroke and traumatic brain injury following Methylene Blue administration.

Vasoplegic Shock

Clinical studies in cardiac surgery patients indicate improved mean arterial pressure and reduced vasopressor requirements when Methylene Blue is used as adjunct therapy.

Antimicrobial and Photodynamic Applications

Methylene Blue is used in pathogen inactivation of blood products and demonstrates antimicrobial activity when activated by light.

Evidence synthesis indicates that Methylene Blue possesses clinically proven benefits in methemoglobinemia and strong experimental evidence in mitochondrial, neurologic, and hemodynamic research.

Usage & Quality Compliance 

Paragon Pharmatech Methylene Blue capsules are produced under GMP‑aligned standards. Each batch undergoes:

• HPLC identity confirmation

• Potency assay

• Residual solvent analysis

• Heavy metal testing

• Microbiological testing

• Stability testing

Suggested research monitoring includes vital signs, liver function tests, and neurological assessments where relevant.

Safety Note

Methylene Blue is generally well tolerated at low doses but may cause:

• Nausea or gastrointestinal discomfort

• Blue discoloration of urine or mucosa

• Headache or dizziness

Contraindications and cautions include:

• G6PD deficiency (risk of hemolysis)

• Concomitant serotonergic medications (risk of serotonin syndrome)

• Pregnancy and breastfeeding

High doses may cause hemolysis or methemoglobinemia paradoxically.

Full Reference List 

Clifton J, Leikin JB. Methylene Blue. American Journal of Therapeutics. 2003.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12817524/

Rojas JC et al. Methylene Blue and mitochondrial function. Neurobiology of Aging. 2012.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21704444/

Schirmer RH et al. Methylene blue as a redox drug. Redox Biology. 2011.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22102889/

Oz M et al. Pharmacology of methylene blue. Biochemical Pharmacology. 2011.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21146513/

Wen Y et al. Memory enhancement by methylene blue. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2011.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20827271/

Evgenov OV et al. Methylene blue in vasoplegic syndrome. Circulation. 2006.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16651470/

© Paragon Pharmatech — Educational Material 2025. For scientific and educational purposes only.

Remember, this product is intended for research purposes only and should not be used for human consumption without proper medical guidance. As with any supplement, it is important to prioritize your health and safety, and to consult with a healthcare professional if you have any underlying health concerns before incorporating this product into your routine.
This product is not a food product. By acquiring this product, you are in full knowledge that it’s not a food, nor is it for human consumption and it’s for market research purposes only