Methylene blue has shown potent reactive oxygen species scavenging efficacy in human skin cultured fibroblasts derived from healthy donors with progeria. Methylene blue was found to be more effective in stimulating skin fibroblast proliferation and delaying cellular senescence when compared with other other widely used general and mitochondrial targeting antioxidants
Performed on an in vitro reconstructed 3D human skin model skin irritation testing indicated MB to be safe for long term use, and did not cause irritation at high concentrations. Application to 3D skin models demonstrated improved skin viability, promoted wound healing, increased skin hydration, and increased dermis thickness. To evaluate effectiveness as an antioxidant methylene blue was compared with effects from other ROS scavengers: N-Acetyl-L-cysteine; MitoQ; and MitoTEMPO on primary skin fibroblast from middle aged normal and HGPS patients for 4 weeks. Amongst the tested antioxidants methylene blue was found to be the most effective in reducing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and promoting skin cell proliferation.
MB was tested to see if it could delay or reverse aging phenotypes from skin cells derived from older dermal fibroblast lines from subjects aged 80+ and subjects under 30. Using gene expression analysis MB treatment was found to alter the expression of a subset of extracellular matrix proteins in the skin including upregulation of elastin and collagen 21 which are essential for healthy skin.
Analyses using 3D reconstructed skin models and 2D dermal fibroblasts supports methylene blue as being safe and an effective antioxidant. Taken together study findings suggest that methylene blue has great potential for an anti-aging affect in skin care longevity, and is a more potent scavenger than NAC, MitoQ, and mTEM.
