Methylene blue elicits non-genotoxic HO production and protects brain mitochondria from rotenone toxicity.

Methylene blue (MB) is a promising compound with a broad range of neuroprotective activity. One of therapeutic effects is the activation of mitochondrial biogenesis via Nrf2/ARE signaling cascade. Probably, mild oxidative stress caused by MB-depended H2O2 production is a trigger for activation of this signaling cascade.