salisyylaatit

Salicylates are salts of salicylic acid, the organic compound 2-hydroxybenzoic acid. They form when salicylic acid reacts with bases such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, or ammonium. Common examples include sodium salicylate, potassium salicylate, calcium salicylate, magnesium salicylate, and ammonium salicylate. The salts are typically more water-soluble than the parent acid and consist of a salicylate anion paired with a countercation.

Historically, salicylates have been used as analgesics, antipyretics, and anti-inflammatory agents, especially before acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) became prevalent. Today they are still encountered in some pharmaceutical formulations, and they serve as reagents and intermediates in organic synthesis. They can also function as buffering agents in solution due to their weakly acidic nature.

Safety considerations: salicylates, like other salicylates, can be toxic at high doses and may cause symptoms such as tinnitus, headaches, dizziness, vomiting, or metabolic disturbances. They should be used with medical supervision in sensitive populations, notably children. Regulatory controls apply to pharmaceutical ingredients, labeling, and disposal in accordance with chemical-safety guidelines.

Relation to biology and natural products: salicylic acid occurs in plants as a signaling molecule involved in defense responses; its salts appear in industrial and medicinal contexts but are primarily discussed as chemical derivatives rather than biological agents.