Salicylates

A salicylate is a salt or ester of salicylic acid. Salicylates are found naturally in some plants (such as white willow bark and wintergreen leaves) and are thought to protect the plant against insect damage and disease. Aspirin is a derivative of salicylic acid - and is also known as acetylsalicylic acid.

Salicylates are used as food preservatives and antiseptics and have bacteriostatic, fungicidal and keratolytic (skin peeling) properties. Salicylic acid and acetylsalicylic acid have analgesic (pain relieving), anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic (temperature-lowering) effects. The main risk of acetylsalicylic acid at therapeutic dosages is gastrointestinal irritation; however, it can be toxic if ingested in large quantities.

Most people have no problem with salicylate-containing foods or medicines; however, some people are extremely sensitive to them. In addition to aspirin, other common salicylate-containing medicines include bismuth subsalicylate, choline salicylate, diflunisal, magnesium salicylate, and salsalate.