white willow Flashcards
analgesics
pain reliever
type of plant
fast growing tree
-occurs in moist to periodically flooded habitats
used med. in
eurasia and NA
europe
white willow dates back to the ancient greeks
treating: chronic pain, fevers, gout , headaches
leonhart fuchs
german herbalist
- treating gastrointestinal pain and chronic inflammation (gout
indig. tribes in NA used for same reasons)
contains phenolics
salicin and salicylic acid which both have antipyretic and analgesic properties
-also have adverse side effects: gastric discomfott and nausea
antipyretic effect results from
release of body heat following peripheral blood flow stimulation
analgesic effect
CNS depression
salicylic acid is also an effective anti inflammatory agent
reducing painful inflammation of the joints, muscless and tendons
Bayer
comp. in germany
- investigated salicyclic acid
- semisynthesized acetylsalicylic acid
ASA
was patented as aspirin
ASA taken regularly has been shown to reduce the
risk of heart attack and stroke and to reduce the incidence of colorectal and other cancers and highly effective treatment for angia (chest pains from shortage of oxygen to the heart muscle)
ASA is most widely used
US over 50 million consumed daily
research in europe confirmed the efficacy of willow bark extracts in treating
chronic pain and inflammation
a mixture of compounds may be involved since the effect dose of willow bark extract is lower than that of pure acetylsalicylic acid
