Brief Introduction

Synonyms---

Salicin  (D-(−)-Salicin, salicoside, 2-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside)

Chemical Name: (2R,3S,4S,5R,6S)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-6-[2-(hydroxymethyl) phenoxy]oxane-3,4,5-triol
Molecular Formula: C₁₃H₁₈O₇

Mol. Wt.: 286.281

Molecular Structure:

Salix alba (White Willow) is a species of willow native to Europe and western and central Asia. The name derives from the white tone to the undersides of the leaves.It is a medium-sized to large deciduous tree growing up to 10–30 m tall, with a trunk up to 1 m diameter and an irregular, often leaning crown. The bark is grey-brown, deeply fissured in older trees. The shoots in the typical species are grey-brown to green-brown. The leaves are paler than most other willows, due to a covering of very fine silky white hairs, particularly on the underside; they are 5–10 cm long and 0.5–1.5 cm wide. The flowers are produced in catkins in early spring, and pollinated by insects. It is dioecious, with male and female catkins on separate trees; the male catkins are 4–5 cm long, the female catkins 3–4 cm long at pollination, lengthening as the fruit matures. When mature in mid summer, the female catkins comprise numerous small (4 mm) capsules each containing numerous minute seeds embedded in white down which aids wind dispersal.

Hippocrates wrote in the 5th century BC about a bitter powder extracted from willow bark that could ease aches and pains and reduce fevers. This remedy is also mentioned in texts from ancient Egypt, Sumer, and Assyria. The Reverend Edmund Stone, a vicar from Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire, England, noted in 1763 that willow bark was effective in reducing a fever. The bark is often macerated in ethanol to produce a tincture.

The active extract of the bark, called salicin, after the Latin name Salix, was isolated to its crystalline form in 1828 by Henri Leroux, a French pharmacist, and Raffaele Piria, an Italian chemist, who then succeeded in separating out the acid in its pure state. Salicylic acid, like aspirin, is a chemical derivative of salicin.

Salicin (C₁₃H₁₈O₇) is an alcoholic β-glycoside that contains D-glucose. Salicin is an anti-inflammatory agent that is produced from all willow barks. Salicin is closely related in chemical make-up to aspirin and has a very similar action in the human body although it is considered better than aspirin as it has a higher bioavailability and it does not cause gastric bleeding. When consumed, it is metabolized to salicylic acid. Salicin elicits bitterness like quinine, when consumed.

The White Willow Bark Extract used in dietary supplements is derived from the bark of the plant white willow (Salix alba L.).

Benefits

• Ease aches and pains

•Reduce fevers

Mechanism

Not available.

Safety

White Willow Bark Extract is safe, no side effects have been reported to date, but relying on this type of treatment alone, and avoiding conventional medical care, may have serious health consequences.

Dosage

•  The typical dose is 300-900mg per day (usually in 2-3 doses throughout the day).
•  Consult physicians for different condition specifics.

GNI’s White Willow Bark Extract Features and Benefits:

White Willow Bark Extract is one of GNI's most competitive products, with many advantages as list in the following, produced as our patent-pending process and know-how technology from Salix alba L. barks.

•  Produced with pure water only

•  High purity: over 98%

•  NO solvent - residual free

•  Pesticide-free

•  Crystal white in appearance

•  High solubility in water

•  High anti-bacteria, and longer shelf life

Product Specifications:

10%, 12%,15%,20%,25%,50%, 80%, 98% Salicin HPLC

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