Crystalline violet is a basic dye that binds to DNA in the nucleus and stains the nucleus, Triphenylmethane dye and methyl violet were the first synthetic dyes used to verify amyloid. Methyl violet is a mixture of tetra-, penta-, and hexamethyl paraffin bases, and the staining of amyloid may be due to the selective affinity of methyl violet for a colored component; the reaction of amyloid is far from specific because of the lack of a significant color change that distinguishes it from other tissue components, and the use of a water-soluble sealing agent to seal methyl violet-stained sections is necessary because local dehydration can disrupt red Multi-staining.

Crystalline violet-citric acid staining solution (0.1%), mainly composed of crystalline violet and citric acid, is a staining solution commonly used in tissue or cell staining that can stain the nuclei of cells to a dark purple color.