Salicylate (SA)

Salicylate is a monohydroxybenzoic acid and a primary metabolite of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), though it is also a naturally occurring compound found in various plants. In clinical pharmacology, it acts as a potent anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic agent, primarily by exerting reversible inhibition on cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzymes to suppress the biosynthesis of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins [2, 5, 8]. Beyond its traditional role as a COX inhibitor, salicylate is a versatile signaling molecule that directly activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and inhibits the IκB kinase β (IKKβ) complex, thereby modulating energy metabolism and suppressing NF-κB-driven inflammatory responses [1, 14, 15]. In the field of plant biology, salicylate (as salicylic acid) serves as an essential phytohormone that mediates systemic acquired resistance (SAR) against biotrophic pathogens through interactions with its receptors, such as the NPR family of proteins [11, 18]. While it provides significant therapeutic benefits, salicylate exposure must be carefully managed to avoid toxicity, which can lead to metabolic acidosis, gastrointestinal ulceration, and, in children with viral infections, the risk of Reye’s syndrome [12, 16].

Other names

Salicylic acid2-Hydroxybenzoic acido-Hydroxybenzoic acid2-CarboxyphenolSalicylates

Reversible inhibition of cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX-1 and COX-2) to reduce prostaglandin production; direct binding and activation of the β1 subunit of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK); inhibition of IκB kinase β (IKKβ) to prevent NF-κB activation; and competitive binding to high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and GAPDH to suppress pro-inflammatory signaling [5, 9, 14, 15, 17].