GENTIAN VIOLET

[A blue dye, extracted from plant of genus Gentiana, used in topical solution 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+ interacts with negatively charged components of the bacterial cell wall including lipopolysaccharides, peptidoglycan and DNA. This agent is a mutagen and mitotic poison, thereby inhibits cell growth. GV elicits a photodynamic action mediated by a free-radical mechanism. Furthermore, this agent dissipates action potential on the bacterial mitochondrial membrane by inducing permeability, thereby leading to respiratory inhibition and subsequent cell death. ( NCI )]

UMLS (NCI) C0017440