Background
The majority of most modern day medicines have come from a source of mainly herbs or plants. The treatment of diseases with medicinal herbs is called phytotherapy, and the study which is carried out to derive drugs from plants is called phytochemistry. Salicin is a glycoside (which consists of a carbohydrate molecule- sugar) isolated from Salix Alba which attracted researchers in the early 19th century, salicylic acid was produced and then acetyl-salicylic acid was synthesised from coal tar, this is known as ‘Kolbe synthesis’ in organic chemistry, which is used for killing pain. John vane discovered that acetylsalicylic acid works by inhabiting the production of prostaglandin, the mediators of inflammation. Salix has analgesic properties and is also used as an antipyretic (to reduce fever), an anti-inflammatory and to reduce the chance of recurring heart attack in patients who have already suffered from myocardial infarction.
Dose
The normal dose of Salicin is 250g-500mg of the extract standardized to 8% Salicin or 1-2 grains of Salicin.
List of plants containing Salicin
· Salix alba
· Salix tetresperma
· Salix fragilis
· Populous nigra
· Populous tremula
· Filipendula ulmaria
Salicin related compounds
Gaultherin, monotropin and spiraein are a few known compounds present in plant flora which are known to have similar activity to Salicin. Gaultherin is a glycoside or methyl salicylate and is found in wintergreens. It is also known as monotropitoside and is used as a source for manufacturing salicylic acid.
