Unlike some toxins, methylene blue doesn’t make harmful free radicals in brain cells after they’ve been starved.
Scientific Claim
Methylene blue does not increase mitochondrial superoxide production in primary mouse astrocytes during reoxygenation after oxygen-glucose deprivation, unlike the positive control antimycin-A.
Original Statement
“MB treatment did not increase superoxide production, while, as predicted, antimycin-A significantly increased astrocytes superoxide production.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
definitive
Can make definitive causal claims
Assessment Explanation
The study directly measured mitochondrial superoxide using a validated fluorescent probe with a clear positive control; the absence of effect is statistically confirmed.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Methylene blue helps brain cells recover better after being starved of oxygen and sugar, and it does so by making their energy production more efficient—not by causing harmful side effects like a known toxic chemical (antimycin-A) does.