Methyl Green is a basic dicationic dye and is composed of triphenylmethane. It is suitable for the detection of DNA and RNA. It acts as a photochromophore and used to activate gelatinous films.
Methyl green zinc chloride double salt (C.I. 42590) is a dry dye that is used for the preparation of a staining solution e.g. for DNA and RNA staining in methyl green-pyronine G staining method in histological sections of human origin.