This product is used to treat minor aches and pains of the muscles/joints (such as arthritis, backache, sprains). Menthol and methyl salicylate work by causing the skin to feel cool and then warm. These feelings on the skin distract you from feeling the aches/pains deeper in your muscles and joints.
Why use methyl salicylate topically?
Aspirin is probably the best-known example of these non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Applied topically, methyl salicylate is absorbed through the skin and affects the source of pain directly. Two Compelling Reasons to Use Methyl Salicylate You’ve got choices when it’s time to select a pain reliever.
What is the hydrolysis of methyl salicylate?
Methyl salicylate undergoes hydrolysis in the presence of aqueous base resulting in the formation of salicylic acid and methanol. Very low concentration is used as a flavouring agent in candy, chewing gum, cough drops and toothpaste.
How does methyl salicylate affect plant communication?
Since methyl salicylate is volatile, these signals can spread through the air to distal parts of the same plant or even to neighboring plants, whereupon they can function as a mechanism of plant-plant communication, "warning" neighbors of danger.
What is the mechanism of action of salicylates?
The most widely recognized mode of action of the salicylates is the inhibition of the formation of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are 20-carbon molecules having side chains of varying degrees of saturation and oxidation , synthesized from polyunsaturated fatty acids in the body in response to tissue damage.
What is the mechanism of action of methyl salicylate?
Mechanism : Methyl Salicylate acts a counter rubefacient. It acts by stimulating the superficial afferent nerves from the same spinal segment that supplies the underlying painful muscles. The stimulation of these nerves causes vasodilation in that spinal segment and that reduces the cause of pain in the deeper muscles.
What does methyl salicylate do for the body?
Methyl salicylate is an external analgesic available in over-the-counter (OTC) medicines that temporarily relieve minor body aches and muscle and joint pain associated with backache, arthritis, strains, sprains, and bruises.
Does methyl salicylate reduce inflammation?
Methyl salicylate is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in a group of drugs called salicylates (sa-LIS-il-ates). camphor, lidocaine, and methyl salicylate works by reducing substances in the body that cause pain and inflammation.
How does menthol reduce inflammation?
As a topical agent, it acts as a counter-irritant by imparting a cooling effect and by initially stimulating nociceptors and then desensitizing them. Topically applied menthol may also activate central analgesic pathways.
Who should not use methyl salicylate?
This drug contains an aspirin-like product (salicylate). Children and teenagers younger than 18 years should not use this product if they have chickenpox, flu, or any undiagnosed illness or if they have recently received a vaccine.
How long does methyl salicylate stay in your system?
Salicylates are generally absorbed quickly through the gastrointestinal tract. The elimination half-life is generally between 3 and 12 hours at therapeutic doses, but this can increase unpredictably up to 30 hours in the setting of an overdose.
What is the side effects of methyl salicylate?
What are the possible side effects of methyl salicylate topical?redness or swelling of the treated area;increased pain; or.severe burning or skin irritation such as a rash, itching, pain, or blistering.
What does methyl salicylate do for pain?
Menthol and methyl salicylate are known as counterirritants. They work by causing the skin to feel cool and then warm. These feelings on the skin distract you from feeling the aches/pains deeper in your muscles, joints, and tendons.
What are the hazards of methyl salicylate?
Eye: May cause eye irritation.Skin: Causes moderate skin irritation. May be absorbed through the skin in harmful amounts.Ingestion: May cause nausea and vomiting. May be harmful if swallowed. ... Inhalation: Causes respiratory tract irritation. ... Chronic: May cause liver and kidney damage.
Can you use too much topical menthol?
Menthol can cause a cold or burning sensation, which is usually mild and should lessen over time with continued use. If this sensation causes significant discomfort, wash the skin with soap and water. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 7 days of treatment, or if they get worse.
Why does menthol work on pain?
This medication is used to treat minor aches and pains of the muscles/joints (such as arthritis, backache, sprains). Menthol works by causing the skin to feel cool and then warm. These feelings on the skin distract you from feeling the aches/pains deeper in your muscles and joints.
Is Vicks good for joint pain?
There's also evidence that the camphor, eucalyptus oil, and menthol in the ointment make it a good choice for relieving muscle and joint pain.
Is methyl salicylate harmful to humans?
Methyl salicylate if ingested is very poisonous. Methyl salicylate is a relatively common cause of poisoning of children, and ingestion of one teaspoon of oil of wintergreen may be fatal because it contains approximately 6 g of salicylate equivalent to ingesting approximately 20 aspirin tablets [3].
What is the side effects of methyl salicylate?
Methyl salicylate topical side effectsredness or swelling of the treated area;increased pain; or.severe burning or skin irritation such as a rash, itching, pain, or blistering.
What does methyl salicylate do for pain?
Menthol and methyl salicylate are known as counterirritants. They work by causing the skin to feel cool and then warm. These feelings on the skin distract you from feeling the aches/pains deeper in your muscles, joints, and tendons.
Is methyl salicylate the same as aspirin?
Methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen) is a chemical that smells like wintergreen. It is used in many over-the-counter products, including muscle ache creams. It is related to aspirin. Methyl salicylate overdose occurs when someone swallows a dangerous amount of a product containing this substance.
What is methyl salicylate used for?
Topical methyl salicylate (for the skin) is used for acute muscle relaxation or joint pain caused by strains, sprains, inflammation, swelling, or b...
How does methyl salicylate relieve pain?
The counterirritants are called menthol and methyl salicylate. They work by making the skin feel cool and dry, afterwards. Such skin sensations pre...
What is the chemical difference between salicylic acid and methyl salicylate?
The COOH group of salicylic acid is esterified with methanol (CH3OH) in methyl salicylate (winter green oil), while the acid portion of the ester i...
Where does methyl salicylate come from?
This is a derivative of salicylic acid. Methyl salicylate (winter-green or winter-green oil) is an organic ester produced naturally by many plant s...
Is methyl salicylate more polar than salicylic acid?
The distinction between the two is that aspirin is salicylic acid which has been esterified with the free OH of salicylic acid. Both compounds appe...
What is methyl salicylate, and does it work?
You limp into the pharmacy or the shops, most staff will point you to the direction of products like Dencorub or Metsal. Both products have the same telltale smell, the smell of wintergreen oil. Wintergreen is an extract of a plant call Gaultheria procumbens, but birch trees also produce the same compound.
What does it do?
Methyl salicylate has a similar structure to aspirin, which is known as salicylic acid. Hence, the compound has a slight anti- inflammatory action when you rub on the painful area. Aside from that effect, it is also a counter-irritant.
Effectiveness of Methyl Salicylate
While it is generally an effective product, it is does not have a long lasting effect. These creams are designed for muscular pains, as most of them are marketed to sooth sore muscles. It might be less effective in treating heel pains or chronic inflammatory problems such as Achilles Tendinitis.
What is Methyl Salicylate?
Methyl salicylate is the ester of salicylic acid in which the acidic carboxylate moiety is methylated but the phenolic hydroxyl is unchanged.
Does methyl salicylate affect vitamin K?
Methyl salicylate like other salicylates interfere s with vitamin-k metabolism thereby decreasing blood clotting ability. For allergic individuals the risk of an adverse reaction is not dose related even a very small amount topically applied salicylate can generate an allergic response.
Is methyl salicylate the same as salicylic acid?
Methyl salicylate is very similar in structure to salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is found in copious amounts in the bark of willow bark that could ease aches and reduce fever.
Is salicylic acid methanol?
The COOH group of salicylic acid is esterified with methanol (CH3OH) in methyl salicylate ( winter green oil), while the acid portion of the ester in acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) is acetic acid, and salicylic acid contributes to the phenolic −OH community.
What is methyl salicylate used for?
For acute joint and muscular pain, methyl salicylate is used as a rubefacient and analgesic in deep heating liniments. It is used as a flavoring agent in chewing gums and mints in small concentrations and added as antiseptic in mouthwash solutions.
How long does methyl salicylate last in water?
If released in water, methyl salicylate should slowly volatilize (half-life 49 days in a model river), biodegrade, and be lost as a result of direct photolysis and photooxidation in surface waters. In alkaline water, hydrolysis may also be a significant fate process (estimated half-life 14 days at pH 7.5).
How long does it take for salicylates to be absorbed?
Approximately 12-20% of topically applied methyl salicylate may be systemically absorbed through intact skin within 10 hours of application, and absorption varies with different conditions such as surface area and pH. Dermal bioavailability is in the range of 11.8 – 30.7%. For the assessment of potential oral exposure to salicylates, bioavailability is assumed to be 100%.
What is the log octanol / water partition coefficient for methyl salicylate?
The log octanol / water partition coefficient for methyl salicylate is 2.55 (1). The BCF estimated from this log Kow using a regression equation is 4 which indicates that the ester will not bioconcentrate in fish (SRC).
How long does salicylate stay in plasma?
The half-life of salicylate may be as long as 15 to 30 hr at high therapeutic doses or when there is intoxication.
What is the color of salicylate?
Methyl salicylate appears as colorless yellowish or reddish liquid with odor of wintergreen. (USCG, 1999) Methyl salicylate is a benzoate ester that is the methyl ester of salicylic acid. It has a role as a flavouring agent, a metabolite and an insect attractant. It is a benzoate ester and a member of salicylates.
Where is salicylate transported?
Salicylate is actively transported by a low-capacity, saturable system out of the CSF across the choroid plexus. The drug readily crosses the placental barrier.
What is methyl salicylate used for?
Methyl salicylate is used in low concentrations (0.04% and under) as a flavoring agent in chewing gum and mints. When mixed with sugar and dried, it is a potentially entertaining source of triboluminescence, for example by crushing Wint-O-Green Life Savers in a dark room.
How does methyl salicylate biosynthesis occur?
The biosynthesis of methyl salicylate arises via the hydroxylation of benzoic acid by a cytochrome P450 followed by methylation by a methylase enzyme.
What is minty flavored?
It is a colorless, viscous liquid with a sweet, fruity odor reminiscent of root beer, but often associatively called "minty", as it is an ingredient in mint candies. It is produced by many species of plants, particularly wintergreens. It is also produced synthetically, used as a fragrance and as a flavoring agent.
What is the name of the substance that accumulates in blood, plasma, and serum?
Salicylate, the major metabolite of methyl salicylate , may accumulate in blood, plasma or serum to confirm a diagnosis of poisoning in hospitalized patients or to assist in an autopsy.
Why do plants produce methyl salicylate?
Many plants produce methyl salicylate in small quantities. Methyl salicylate levels are often upregulated in response to biotic stress, especially infection by pathogens, where it plays a role in the induction of resistance. Methyl salicylate is believed to function by being metabolized to the plant hormone salicylic acid. Since methyl salicylate is volatile, these signals can spread through the air to distal parts of the same plant or even to neighboring plants, whereupon they can function as a mechanism of plant- plant communication, "warning" neighbors of danger. Methyl salicylate is also released in some plants when they are damaged by herbivorous insects, where they may function as a cue aiding in the recruitment of predators.
When was methyl salicylate first discovered?
Methyl salicylate was first isolated (from the plant Gaultheria procumbens) in 1843 by the French chemist Auguste André Thomas Cahours (1813–1891), who identified it as an ester of salicylic acid and methanol.
Is methyl salicylate a rubefacient?
Methyl salicylate is used in high concentrations as a rubefacient and analgesic in deep heat ing liniments ( such as Bengay) to treat joint and muscular pain. Randomised double blind trials report that evidence of its effectiveness is weak, but stronger for acute pain than chronic pain, and that effectiveness may be due entirely to counterirritation. However, in the body it metabolizes into salicylates, including salicylic acid, a known NSAID.
How should I use this drug? TOP
This medicine is for external use only. Do not take by mouth. Wash your hands before and after use. If you are treating your hands, only wash your hands before use. Do not get it in your eyes. If you do, rinse your eyes with plenty of cool tap water. Use it as directed on the label. Do not use it more often than directed.
What if I miss a dose? TOP
This does not apply. This medicine is not for regular use. It should only be used as needed.
What are the side effects of methyl salicylate?
Methyl salicylate topical side effects. Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. severe burning or skin irritation such as a rash, itching, pain, or blistering.
What is methyl salicylate topical?
Methyl salicylate topical (for the skin) is used for temporary relief of minor aches and pains caused by strains, sprains, arthritis, bruising, nerve pain, simple backache, or pain in the lower spine.
How to apply methyl salicylate patch?
To apply a methyl salicylate topical skin patch, remove the liner and apply the patch to your skin over the area of pain. Press the edges firmly into place. Remove the patch and apply a new patch 1 or 2 times daily if needed. Methyl salicylate topical may be used up to 4 times daily or as directed on the medicine label.
Can you use methyl salicylate on contact lenses?
Also avoid getting this medication on contact lenses, dentures, and other items that come into contact with sensitive areas of your body. Avoid applying methyl salicylate right after bathing or shaving.
Can salicylate harm a baby?
It is not known whether methyl salicylate topical will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication. It is not known whether methyl salicylate topical passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby.
When to shake spray?
Shake the spray well just before each use.
Can you take methyl salicylate orally?
It is not likely that other drugs you take orally or inject will have an effect on topically applied methyl salicylate. But many drugs can interact with each other. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
How does acetylsalicylic acid work?
Acetylsalicylic acid blocks the production of hormones (chemical substances formed by the body) called prostaglandins that may be released by an injured cell, triggering release of two other hormones that sensitize nerves to pain. The blocking action prevents this response and is believed to work in a similar way to prevent tissue inflammation. Acetylsalicylic acid is only effective on cells producing prostaglandins — for instance, injured cells. The recommended maximum therapeutic dosages for children (2,000 mg daily, spread over four-500 mg doses separated by at least four hours) and adults of (4,000 mg daily) works best against “ tolerable ” pain; extreme pain is virtually unaffected, as is pain in internal organs. Its effect lasts for about four hours.
When was salicylic acid first discovered?
They were first described in Egyptian scrolls dating to about 1550 bce and were later recommended by a number of ancient authorities, including the famous Greek physician Hippocrates (c. 460–370 bce), the Roman encyclopedist Aulus Cornelius Celsus (c. 10 bce-date of death unknown), the Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder (23 ce-ce), and the Greek physician Pedanius Dioscorides (40–90 ce).
How does aspirin help with inflammation?
Analgesic/anti-inflammatory action. Aspirin is commonly used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation, the body's local response to any event causing tissue damage, which includes pain, redness, swelling, and hotness of the affected area. It works best against pain that is bearable; extreme pain is almost entirely unaffected, as is pain in internal organs. Aspirin blocks the production of hormones (chemical messengers formed by the body) called prostaglandins, which are often released by an injured cell. Prostaglandins in turn trigger the release of two other hormones that make nerves sensitive to pain. Aspirin's blocking action prevents this response and therefore is believed to prevent tissue inflammation. Remarkably, aspirin only acts on cells producing prostaglandins (for instance, injured cells). The effect of each dose lasts approximately four hours.
What is analgesic medicine?
Analgesic — A compound that relieves pain without loss of consciousness.
Does acetylsalicylic acid reduce fever?
Acetylsalicylic acid also reduces fever (antipyresis). This action is believed to occur at the anterior (frontal) hypothalamus, a portion of the brain that regulates such functions as heart rate and body temperature. The body naturally reduces its heat through perspiration and the dilation (expansion) of blood vessels. Prostaglandins released in the hypothalamus inhibit the body ’ s natural heat-reducing mechanism. As acetylsalicylic acid blocks these prostaglandins, the hypothalamus is free to regulate body temperature. Acetylsalicylic acid lowers abnormally high body temperatures while normal body temperature remains unaffected.
Does acetylsalicylic acid help with blood clots?
Finally, acetylsalicylic acid reduces the formation of blood clots due to platelet aggregation. It accomplishes this by inhibiting the production of a prostaglandin called thromboxane A 2, which is instrumental in platelet aggregation. This “ thinning the blood ” can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, and so acetylsalicyclic acid is frequently prescribed in low doses (such as 75 – 80 mg daily) over long periods for at-risk patients.
