Methyl+salicylat

Methyl salicylat is also known as oil of wintergreen or wintergreen oil. it is an organic ester and is produced in mostly plants plants containing methyl salicylat most likely us it as an anti-herbivore defense. if the plant is infected with herbivorus insects, the release of it may function as an aid in the recruitment of beneficial insects to kill the herbivorus insects methyl salicylate is used in high concentrations as a rabefacient in deep heating liniments such as bengay



Commercial production
Methyl salicylate can be produced by [|esterifying] [|salicylic acid] with [|methanol]. Commercial methyl salicylate is now synthesized, but in the past, it was commonly distilled from the twigs of [|//Betula lenta// (sweet birch)] and [|//Gaultheria procumbens// (eastern teaberry or wintergreen)].

Uses
   [|Chick] [|embryo] that was treated with [|methylene blue] to stain the skeleton, then cleansed with 2 or 3 [|ethanol] washes, and treated with methyl salicylate to make the surrounding [|tissues] transparent Methyl salicylate is used in high concentrations as a [|rubefacient] in deep heating [|liniments] (such as [|Bengay] ) to treat joint and muscular pain. Randomised double blind trial reviews report evidence of its effectiveness that is weak, but stronger for acute pain than chronic pain, and that effectiveness may be due entirely to [|counter-irritation]. However in the body, it metabolizes into salicylates, including salicylic acid, a known NSAID. [|[3]][|[4]][|[5]] It is used in low concentrations as a [|flavoring] agent (no more than 0.04%; it is toxic). [|[6]] It is also used to provide [|fragrance] to various products and as an odor-masking agent for some [|organophosphate] [|pesticides] .[// [|citation needed] //] If used excessively, it can cause stomach and kidney problems. [|[7]] Methyl salicylate is among the compounds that attract male [|orchid bees], who apparently gather the chemical to synthesize pheromones; it is commonly used as bait to attract and collect these bees for study. [|[8]] Methyl salicylate has the ability to clear plant or animal tissue samples of color, and as such is useful for microscopy and immunohistochemistry when excess pigments obscure structures or block light in the tissue being examined. This clearing generally only takes a few minutes, but the tissue must first be dehydrated in alcohol.[// [|citation needed] //] Methyl salicylate, though its source plants are not true [|mints], is used as a mint in some kinds of [|chewing gum] and [|candy] , as an alternative to the more common [|peppermint] and [|spearmint] oils. It can also be found as a flavoring of [|root beer]. It is also a potentially entertaining source of [|triboluminescence] ; when mixed with sugar and dried, it gains the tendency to build up electrical charge when crushed or rubbed. This effect can be observed by crushing wintergreen [|Life Savers] candy in a dark room. [|[9]][|[10]] Methyl salicylate can be used as a transfer agent, to produce a manual copy of an image on a surface. [|[11]] Methyl salicylate is added in small amounts to [|glacial acetic acid] to lower its freezing point for transport in cold countries. Methyl salicylate is used as a simulant or surrogate for the research of chemical warfare agent [|sulfur mustard], due to its similar chemical and physical properties. [|[12]] Methyl salicylate is one of several antiseptic ingredients in [|Listerine] mouthwash produced by the [|Johnson & Johnson] company.