Salicin is an alcoholic β-

glucoside A glucoside is a glycoside that is chemically derived from glucose. Glucosides are common in plants, but rare in animals. Glucose is produced when a glucoside is hydrolysed by purely chemical means, or decomposed by fermentation or enzymes. Th ...

. Salicin is produced in (and named after)

willow Willows, also called sallows and osiers, of the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 350 species (plus numerous hybrids) of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions. Most species are known ...

(''Salix'') bark. It is a biosynthetic precursor to salicylaldehyde. Salicin hydrolyses into β-d-glucose and

salicyl alcohol Salicyl alcohol (saligenin) is an organic compound with the formula . It is a white solid that is used as a precursor in organic synthesis. Synthesis and applications Salicyl alcohol is produced by the hydroxymethylation of phenol using formal ...

(saligenin). Salicyl alcohol can be oxidized into salicylaldehyde and salicylate, both biologically and industrially.

Medicinal aspects

Salicin is found in the bark of and leaves of

s, poplars and various other plants. Derivates are found in

castoreum Castoreum is a yellowish exudate from the castor sacs of mature beavers used in combination with urine to territorial marking, scent mark their territory. Both beaver sexes have a pair of castor sacs and a pair of anal glands, located in two c ...

. Salicin from meadowsweet was used in the synthesis of

aspirin Aspirin () is the genericized trademark for acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to reduce pain, fever, and inflammation, and as an antithrombotic. Specific inflammatory conditions that aspirin is ...

(acetylsalicylic acid), in 1899 by scientists at

Bayer Bayer AG (English: , commonly pronounced ; ) is a German multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company and is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies and biomedical companies in the world. Headquartered in Leverkusen, Bayer' ...

. Salicin tastes bitter like

quinine Quinine is a medication used to treat malaria and babesiosis. This includes the treatment of malaria due to ''Plasmodium falciparum'' that is resistant to chloroquine when artesunate is not available. While sometimes used for nocturnal leg ...

. Salicin may cause an allergic skin reaction (skin sensitization; category 1). Mild side effects are standard, with rare occurrences of nausea, vomiting, rash, dizziness and breathing problems. Overdose from high quantities of salicin can be toxic, damaging kidneys, causing stomach ulcers, diarrhea, bleeding or digestive discomfort. Some people may be allergic or sensitive to salicylates and suffer reactions similar to those produced by aspirin. People should not take salicin if they have asthma, diabetes, gout, gastritis, hemophilia, stomach ulcers; also contraindicated are children under 16, and pregnant and breastfeeding women.

References

{{Prostanoidergics Bitter compounds Natural phenols Phenol glucosides