Chemicals and Drugs

Acridine Orange

A cationic cytochemical stain specific for cell nuclei, especially DNA. It is used as a supravital stain and in fluorescence cytochemistry. It may cause mutations in microorganisms.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A cationic cytochemical stain specific for cell nuclei, especially DNA. It is used as a supravital stain and in fluorescence cytochemistry. It may cause mutations in microorganisms.

Chemical Identity

Chemical Information

Molecular Formula
C17H19N3
Molecular Weight
265.35 g/mol
CAS Registry No.
494-38-2
IUPAC Name
3-N,3-N,6-N,6-N-tetramethylacridine-3,6-diamine
InChIKey
DPKHZNPWBDQZCN-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES
CN(C)C1=CC2=C(C=C1)C=C3C=CC(=CC3=N2)N(C)C
MeSH Unique ID
D000165
Source
PubChem CID 62344

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

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Drug Class

Pharmacological Action

MeSH Record

Synonyms

16 entry terms
  • 3,6-Bis(dimethylamino)acridine
  • Acridine Orange Base
  • Euchrysine
  • Rhoduline Orange
  • Tetramethyl Acridine Diamine
  • Acridine Diamine, Tetramethyl
  • Base, Acridine Orange
  • Diamine, Tetramethyl Acridine
  • Orange Base, Acridine
  • Orange, Acridine
  • Orange, Rhoduline
  • Basic Orange 3RN
  • C.I. 46005
  • C.I. Basic Orange 14
  • N,N,N',N'-Tetramethyl-3,6-Acridinediamine Hydrochloride
  • Orange 3RN, Basic

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

19 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, analogs & derivatives, analysis, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, economics, history, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity.

MeSH Record

History Note

1979

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Acridines (1966-1978)
  • Dimethylamines (1974)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

  1. D03w.633.300.046w.250w.150w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Acridine Orange. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D000165. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D000165
  2. Acridine Orange. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acridine_orange
  3. Acridine Orange. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q342717
  4. Acridine Orange. In: PubChem Compound. CID 62344. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/62344