Preamble:
Salicylic acid refers to a variety of phenolic acid procured from natural sources like willow trees or from artificial sources like carbolic acid. There are various applications implicating the usage of this lipophilic monohydroxybenzoic acid. Salicylic acids are serving as the crucial metabolites in the production of acetyl salicylic acid (aspirin). Anti-acne products incorporate this prodrug for better results. Salicylates are indicating the salt and ester forms of salicylic acid. The basic health system requires salicylic acid for efficient functioning of the human body. Hence, it has been listed as one of the essential medicines by the World Health Organization (WHO). Salicylic acid is a colorless acid rampantly used in the synthesis of various other organic compounds. It functions efficiently as a plant hormone.
Skin care:
Salicylic acid is best known for its skin replenishing properties. Hence, salicylic acid has been employed on various occasions to resolve skin related issues. They are generally used to treat psoriasis, dandruff, ichthyosis, warts, ringworm, calluses, keratosis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, acanthosis nigricans, acne, corns and keratosis pilaris. Similar to hydroxy acids, salicylic acids have been consistently employed in a wide range of skin care products.
Synthesis of pharmaceutical drugs:
The production of various other organic compounds is a significant processing in chemical drug manufacturing sector in pharmaceutical industries. Salicylic acid has been used in the manufacturing of sandulpiride landetimide through salethamide and in the production of 4-amino salicylic acid. They also have been used extensively for the production of their own derivatives. This includes acetyl salicylic acid, methyl salicylate and bismuth salicylate. Bismuth salicylate has been used as an active component for relieving stomach related issues. Pepto-Bismol has been incorporated as the major ingredient of kaopectate and has been found to display significant anti inflammatory action. Choline salicylates have been employed in the treatment of mouth ulcers whilst methyl salicylates have been extensively used as a liniment for soothing muscle and joint pain.
Other applications:
Salicylic acid compounds have been used in the food sector as well. They are being employed as a food preservative, an antiseptic and a bactericidal. On the other hand, sodium salicylate a derivative salicylic acid compound has been employed in the vacuum ultraviolet as a useful phosphor with almost flat quantum efficient for wavelengths between 10 and 100 nm.
Adverse side effects:
There are various side effects for the usage of salicylic acid. Over dosage could often lead to salicylate intoxication consequently leading to metabolic acidosis with compensatory respiratory alkalosis. Sometimes, morality could also be a result. Hearing loss could be induced in some cases.