salicin

[ sal-uh-sin ]

noun

, Pharmacology.

1. a colorless, crystalline, water-soluble glucoside, C 1 3 H 1 8 O 7 , obtained from the bark of the American aspen: used in medicine chiefly as an antipyretic and analgesic.

salicin

/ ˈsælɪsɪn /

noun

1. a colourless or white crystalline water-soluble glucoside obtained from the bark of poplar trees and used as a medical analgesic. Formula: C 13 H 18 O 7

Word History and Origins

Origin of salicin¹

1820–30; < French salicine < Latin salic- (stem of salix ) willow + French -ine -ine ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of salicin¹

C19: from French salicine, from Latin salix willow

Example Sentences

A medicine cabinet with products like aspirin — a precursor, salicin, is in native healers’ willow bark — shows the ancient knowledge still in use.

From New York Times

The active ingredient in willow bark is salicin, the original source for what ultimately became aspirin.

From Washington Post

David Maitland photographed the crystallised chemical salicin, which comes from willow tree bark.

From BBC

Salicin forms the basis of the analgesic Aspirin - no doubt this is why some animals seek out willow bark to chew on.

From BBC

The compound within the willow bark that provided these benefits was not isolated until the early 1800s in Germany and was initially named salicin.

From US News