Salicin in modern drug discovery: A comprehensive review of pharmacokinetics, ethnopharmacology, and clinical applications

Background: Salicin, a prominent phenolic glycoside derived from Salix species, has traditionally been used to manage pain and inflammatory conditions. Despite its long-standing ethnomedicinal use, comprehensive knowledge regarding its pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, analytical characterization, and clinical potential remains limited. This review aims to consolidate current knowledge on salicin, encompassing its botanical sources, ethnopharmacological relevance, pharmacokinetics and bioavailability, analytical methodologies, and clinical evidence. Methods: A thorough literature search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Studies reporting on salicin’s chemistry, traditional uses, pharmacological mechanisms, bioavailability, analytical profiling, and clinical trials were included. Relevant data were critically appraised and synthesized to provide an integrated overview. Results and Findings: Salix species are the primary sources of salicin, and ethnomedicinal evidence supports their use for musculoskeletal and inflammatory disorders. Pharmacokinetic studies indicate that formulation and gut microbiota significantly influence bioavailability, with rapid hydrolysis to saligenin followed by metabolism to salicylic acid. Advances in analytical methods, including spectroscopic techniques, LC-MS, and HPLC, enable precise quantification and standardization. Although large-scale, long-term trials are lacking, existing clinical studies demonstrate notable anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects with a favourable safety profile. Conclusion: Salicin holds considerable therapeutic promise, bridging traditional knowledge and modern pharmacology. Future studies should improve bioavailability, standardize analyses, and conduct robust clinical trials to confirm dosing, efficacy, and safety.