Description

• General description: Methyl salicylate (MeSA) is a natural herbivore-induced plant volatile[1] It is a naturally occurring product in trees, legumes, exotic plants, vegetables, berries, and the primary constituent of the oil of wintergreen.[2][3] MeSA is produced from salicylic acid.[4]
• Application: Methyl salicylate has been used:as a component of clarifying solution for treating Mongolian gerbil cochlea intact for immunofluorescence analysis[5] as a plant elicitor to test its effect on reducing the whitefly population from tomato plants[6]in the hyalinization of tissues for pulmonary angiography[7]in clearing tissues[8][9][10]
• Biochem/physiol Actions: Methyl salicylate plays an important role in fruit ripening. It is known to attract natural enemies of herbivores.[1] MeSA inhibits the activity of aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase (ACC synthase) and aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase (ACC oxidase) in plums and tomatoes,[11] it can inhibit fungal infections and reduce chilling injury symptoms in fruits like pomegranates.[11] This oil of wintergreen is of great interest in the tobacco industry as a flavorant.[2] It has counter irritant[12] and anti-inflammatory effects.[13]
• Legal Information: ReagentPlus is a registered trademark of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany