What is Methyl Salicylate?
Methyl salicylate, otherwise known as oil of wintergreen, comes from several different species of plants. Plants which contain methyl salicylate produce an organic ester, which can be toxic to herbivores. Methyl salicylate can also be used by plants as a pheromone, as a warning to other plants of viral pathogens. Commercially, methyl salicylate can be synthesized by “esterifying” salicilic acid with methanol. Methyl salicylate is used in deep heating liniments. It is also used in small amounts as a flavoring agent. Additional uses are for providing fragrance to products and to mask odor for certain organophosphate pesticides. In too high quantities, Methyl Salicylate can cause stomach and kidney problems.
