Methyl Green
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Methyl Green is a basic dye of the rosaniline group, obtained by the action of chloromethyl on methyl violet. It is a green crystalline powder used as a nuclear stain in cytology, often in combination with pyronin for staining plasma cells.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
METHYL GREEN, methylgrün, a basic dye of the rosaniline group (see Histological technique); obtained by the action of chloromethyl on methyl violet; the latter usually also enters as an impurity in the composition of commercial M., giving it metachromatic abilities. Pure German M. has the brand NMP. M. is a green crystalline powder, soluble in water (up to 8%), less so in ethyl alcohol; it is a good nuclear stain, which is why it has found considerable use in cytology; in particular, it can be used for staining fresh objects, as it also has fixing properties (for example, a solution of M. in 1% acetic acid). The mixture of Unna-Papenheim (methylgreen-pyronin) is widely used for staining plasma cells. The disadvantage of preparations stained with M. is their instability.
Related articles
Mentioned in
Cite this page
“Methyl Green.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/methyl-green/