Indicator, Reagent, or Diagnostic Aid
gentian violet
gen·tian vi·o·let
Brand Names:
Blu-Kote; Pad Kote
Effect:
Unknown Physiological Effect
May Prevent:
Candidiasis, Chronic Mucocutaneous; Candidiasis, Cutaneous
May Treat:
Candidiasis, Chronic Mucocutaneous; Candidiasis, Cutaneous; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal; Staphylococcal Skin Infections
More Information:
ChemID; DrugBank; DailyMed; PDR
Definitions related to gentian violet:
  • A blue, aniline-derived dye with antifungal and antimitotic properties. Gentian violet (GV) dissociates into positive (GV+) and negative ions (Cl-) that penetrate both gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial cells. The GV+ ions interact with negatively charged components of the bacterial cell wall including lipopolysaccharide, peptidoglycan and DNA. This agent is also a mutagen and mitotic poison. GV elicits a photodynamic action mediated by a free-radical mechanism. Furthermore, this agent dissipates the action potential on prokaryotic or eukaryotic membranes by inducing permeability, thereby leading to respiratory inhibition and subsequent cell death.
    NCI Thesaurus
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • A dye that is a mixture of violet rosanilinis with antibacterial, antifungal, and anthelmintic properties.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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