1. Kaylee, Rachel, Erin, Hailey, Anna
Aspirin
Kaylee, Rachel, Erin, Hailey, Anna

2. What is aspirin?
Part of a class of drugs called nsaids - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Mild analgesic and anticoagulant

3. Origin of aspirin
Salicylic acid discovered in 400 bce in willow tree bark– originally used to relieve pain from childbirth
Named salicin in Italy in 1823
In 1853, the French found it was an irritant to the gut
German scientists found adding an acetyl group to the salicylic acid reduced irritating properties
Started clinical trials in named aspirin by bayer

4. Timeline of Aspirin’s Origins
1915 –
Aspirin available without prescription in the US- bestseller
1823 –
Named Salicin in Italy
400 BC –
Willow Bark used to relieve pain during childbirth
1853 –
Found to be an irritant by French scientists
1995 –
Found to protect against bowel cancer
1899 –
Started clinical trials of Aspirin
1838 –
Found in a meadowsweet flower by Swiss and German researchers
1893 –
Germans added acetyl group to salicylic acid to reduce irritant properties
1974 –
Found to help prevent heart attacks
Timeline of Aspirin’s Origins

5. How Pain Works in the Body
To understand how aspirin works, it is important to understand how pain works in the body
Prostaglandins are formed by an enzyme when cells are damaged through thermal, mechanical, or chemical energy (In other words, when someone is injured)
Prostaglandins trigger an inflammatory response- swelling, redness
Increases body temperature
One senses pain when the prostaglandins trigger pain receptors throughout the body and carry that message to the brain

6. Aspirin has two functions, which are performed simultaneously -
To relieve pain and inflammation from thermal, chemical, or physical injury
Inhibits cyclooxygenase-2 (cox-2), an enzyme which forms prostanoids, such as prostaglandins
Works as an anticoagulant (blood thinner)
Inhibits cyclooxygenase-1 (cox-1), which both forms prostaglandins and activates clotting process in platelets via thromboxane (another prostanoid)

8. cyclooxygenase & Aspirin – how the two meet
It is hypothesized the acetyl group in aspirin is what bonds with the cox-1 and cox-2
Bonds to serine-530 and blocks production of prostaglandins
r/ /cutting_edge/aspirin/aspirin.ht m

9. Mystery surrounding how aspirin works
Salicylic acid, from which aspirin’s healing properties are likely derived, has no acetyl group, yet it possessed healing properties
Other suggestion is salicylic acid and aspirin block prostaglandin production not by inhibiting cyclooxygenase enzyme activity but by inhibiting upstream expression of cyclooxygenase genes
Destroy cox genes and keep them from producing more
*supported by aspirin being irreversible, unlike other nsaids*

10. Chemistry behind aspirin – structure
Consists of a benzene ring, Carboxylic acid, and ester

11. Chemistry behind aspirin - synthesis

12. Chemistry behind aspirin – purification
Purification process for aspirin is called recrystallization
Dissolved in warm solution, gently cooled
Recrystallizes, impurities stay dissolved

13. Ms. Morgan said this was on the IB exam!!!
IR Spectroscopy
Salicylic Acid
Aspirin
Ms. Morgan said this was on the IB exam!!!

14. salicylic acid & aspirin
The acetyl group added to salicylic acid is the difference between the two
Both have healing properties, though aspirin is easier on the stomach
Salicylic Acid 
Aspirin

15. Production & continuing research
1997-present: aspirin is being used for heart attacks, strokes, pregnancy complications, colon cancer, diabetes, and dementia -which includes Alzheimer’s.
In America alone we consume 16,000 tons of tablets a year.
To produce the tablets that we take now, they add water and cornstarch to the acetylsalicylic acid to serve as the bonding agent
add a lubricant to keep it from sticking to the machinery

16. Side effects - negative
Reye’s syndrome in children
Aspirin allergy
Irritation or ulceration of stomach, which may lead to bleeding
Excessive bleeding

17. Side effects - positive
May help prevent certain cancers, such as bowel cancer
May delay onset of dementia or Alzheimer’s
Treats preeclampsia in pregnant women