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Oil of Wintergreen
Methyl Salicylate – Structure: Oil of wintergreen is a colorless or pale yellow liquid with a characteristic wintergreen odor. It is a terpene and is the main component of oil of wintergreen (90-99%), and is also found in other plants such as sweet birch and black pepper.
Structure and Uses of Methyl Salicylate
Methyl salicylate is a colorless liquid with a fragrant, wintergreen-like odor. It is used as a flavoring agent and as a topical analgesic. Methyl salicylate is also used as an antiseptic and a preservative.
Properties of Methyl Salicylate
Methyl salicylate is a clear, colorless liquid with a strong, wintergreen-like odor. However it is soluble in water and ethanol, and miscible with ether. Methyl salicylate is a weak acid and has a pKa of 3.9. It is a non-volatile, oily liquid at room temperature.
Methyl Salicylate Structural Formula
The methyl salicylate structural formula is C8H8O3. It is a colorless liquid with a strong, characteristic odor. It is soluble in water and also has a melting point of about 52 degrees Celsius.
Methyl Salicylate Side Effects
Methyl salicylate is a pain reliever and fever reducer. It is used to treat pain and inflammation from conditions such as arthritis, muscle aches, and toothache.
Methyl salicylate may also used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Methyl salicylate can cause a severe allergic reaction. Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using methyl salicylate and call your doctor at once if you have:
- severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;
- a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
- ringing in your ears;
- a seizure (convulsions);
- pain or burning when you urinate;
- blood in your urine;
- easy bruising or bleeding; or
- redness, swelling, or blistering where the medicine applied.
- Common side effects may include:
- mild skin irritation where the medicine applied;
- headache, dizziness;
- sweating;
- ringing in your ears; also may include
- nausea, vomiting, stomach pain.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at
