Methylene blue is an organic chloride salt having 3,7-bis(dimethylamino)phenothiazin-5-ium as the counterion. A commonly used dye that also exhibits antioxidant, antimalarial, antidepressant and cardioprotective properties. It has a role as an antioxidant, an antimicrobial agent, a physical tracer, an antidepressant, an EC 3.1.1.8 (cholinesterase) inhibitor, an antimalarial, an EC 1.4.3.4 (monoamine oxidase) inhibitor, an acid-base indicator, a fluorochrome, a neuroprotective agent, a histological dye, a cardioprotective agent and an EC 4.6.1.2 (guanylate cyclase) inhibitor. It contains a 3,7-bis(dimethylamino)phenothiazin-5-ium.
