2-(Acetyloxy)benzoic acid, better known as Aspirin, is a classic drug with a history of over a century, and it is also an important industrial raw material and agricultural regulator.

Common names: Aspirin, Acetylsalicylic acid, Salicylic acid, 2-acetoxybenzoic acid

CAS Number: 50-78-2

EINECS Number: 200-064-1

State of matter: At room temperature, it is a colorless to white crystal or white crystalline powder, odorless or slightly acetic in odor, and has a slightly sour taste.

Main application: One of the most widely used antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs in the world. Additionally, due to its ability to induce plants to develop disease resistance, it has also been registered as a plant growth regulator and a fungicide.

Physical and chemical parameters

Advantages and Characteristics

Advantage of pharmacological mechanism: Aspirin is an irreversible cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor. It inhibits the activity of COX-1 and COX-2 through covalent binding, thereby blocking the synthesis of prostaglandins and exerting antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Its inhibitory effect on COX-1 is much stronger than that on COX-2 (IC50 values are 5 μg/mL and 210 μg/mL respectively).

Plant physiological activity: In agricultural applications, it is regarded as a "signal molecule". Exogenous application can induce plants to acquire systemic acquired resistance (SAR), activating the plants' own defense mechanisms to resist pathogen infection.

Industrial and storage characteristics: Although the powder may form an explosive mixture in the air (precautions must be taken against dust explosion), under normal temperature and sealed conditions, its chemical properties are relatively stable and it is easy to be produced and stored on a large scale.

Main purpose

Pharmaceutical field

• Antipyretic and analgesic: Used to relieve symptoms such as fever from colds, headache, neuralgia, toothache, and muscle pain.

• Anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic: Treat rheumatic fever and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Prevention of cardiovascular events: Long-term low-dose administration can inhibit platelet aggregation, preventing transient cerebral ischemia attacks, myocardial infarction and thrombosis (this is one of the most important uses of aspirin in the elderly population at present).

Agricultural field

• Plant growth regulators: The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China has registered them as pesticides (low toxicity). The active ingredient in its pure form at 99% and the 30% soluble powder form have been approved for use in rice. They are applied by spraying (50-60 grams per acre), which can regulate growth, reduce the damage of reactive oxygen to cell membranes, inhibit water evaporation, delay leaf senescence, and thereby achieve the effect of increasing yield.

• Antibiotic inducers: As exogenous inducers, they activate the plant's systemic acquired resistance (SAR) to prevent and control crop diseases.

• Algaecide: It can be formulated into a solution for the purpose of eliminating red tides and cyanobacteria in water bodies, and it has a relatively minor impact on water quality.

Research field

• Standard substances / reference substances: Used in drug analysis and impurity detection (purity usually above 99%).

• Biochemical research: As a COX inhibitor, it is used to study the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway and inflammatory signal transduction.

Safety and Storage

Dangerousness

• Health hazards: It is irritating to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Excessive ingestion can lead to poisoning, affecting the central nervous system and the blood system.

• Explosion risk: The finely dispersed powder mixed with air has the potential to cause a dust explosion. The production workshop needs to be designed with explosion prevention measures.

• Environmental toxicity: Animal experiments indicate that it may have reproductive toxicity.

First aid measures

• Inhalation: Move to an area with fresh air, rest, and seek medical attention if necessary.

• Skin contact: Remove contaminated clothing and rinse with plenty of water.

• Eye contact: Rinse with plenty of water for several minutes. Seek medical attention if necessary.

• Ingestion: Rinse mouth, seek medical attention immediately (do not feed anyone who is unconscious anything).

Storage method

• Environment: Store in a tightly sealed container in a dry, cool, and well-ventilated place (it is prone to hydrolysis when exposed to moisture).

• Prohibition: Do not store or use together with alkaline substances (alkaline pesticides such as Bordeaux mixture may cause it to decompose and lose its efficacy). Keep away from food and feed.

• Operation: Wear protective gloves, mask and safety goggles to prevent dust from spreading.