Phenosafranin

Chemical properties

green crystalline powder

The Uses of Phenosafranin

Phenosafranin has been used for nuclear staining.

The Uses of Phenosafranin

Phenosafranin is a bacterial stain used in microscopy, biological stain, and nuclear staining.

What are the applications of Application

Phenosafranin is a phenylphenazinium bacterial stain for microscopy

Definition

ChEBI: Phenosafranine is an organic chloride salt having 3,7-diamino-5-phenylphenazin-5-ium as the counterion. It is commonly used for staining Gram negative bacteria red in smears to contrast with the blue Gram positive organisms. It has a role as a fluorochrome, a histological dye and a photosensitizing agent. It contains a 3,7-diamino-5-phenylphenazin-5-ium.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Phenosafranin (PSF) is a red dye released from cells with intact plasma membrane. PSF at lower concentration is used to stain mitochondria supravitally.

Purification Methods

Crystallise the chloride from dilute HCl. It has UV with at 530nm in H2O. The picrate decomposes on heating and has a solubility of 0.0048% in H2O at 18o. [Beilstein 23 H 395, Beilstein 25 H 394, 25 I 654, 25 II 338, 25 III/IV 3050.]