Salix alba
White willow
Salix alba, commonly known as white willow, is a medicinal powerhouse renowned for its high concentration of salicin. Historically used to alleviate pain and reduce fever, this bark serves as the natural precursor to modern aspirin. It remains a vital botanical resource in traditional herbalism for managing inflammation and discomfort.
- Scientific name: Salix alba
- Family: Salicaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and order Malpighiales, it is further categorized under the family Salicaceae. Finally, its scientific identity is defined by the genus Salix.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malpighiales | WCVP |
| Family | Salicaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Salix | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Salix alba, is referred to by various common names depending on the language and region. In Serbian (vec), it is called Salež da manech, while in Chinese, it is identified by the name 白柳 across multiple linguistic variants, including Simplified Chinese (zh-hans, zh-cn), Traditional Chinese (zh-hant), and the Cantonese variant used in Hong Kong (zh-hk).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| vec | Salež da manech | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 白柳 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 白柳 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 白柳 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 白柳 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 白柳 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 白柳 | Wikidata |
| pl | Wierzba biała | Wikidata |
| eu | Zume zuri | Wikidata |
| udm | Тӧдьы бадь | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, known as Salix alba, exhibits a widespread presence across several regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing naturally throughout the country of Denmark. The species also thrives within the landscapes of Finland and Norway. Furthermore, its distribution extends to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. These specific locations highlight the plant's preference for the temperate climates of the northern latitudes.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Salix alba, is most highly valued for its therapeutic properties found within its outer layers. The primary medicinal component is the white willow bark, which is harvested from the tree to extract salicin, a precursor to aspirin. Specifically, the bark itself contains the necessary compounds to help alleviate pain and reduce inflammation. Whether referred to as White Willow Bark in herbal preparations or simply as white willow bark in botanical studies, this specific part of the plant remains a cornerstone of traditional and modern natural medicine.- Total parts
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 6
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| white willow bark | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bark | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| White willow bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| White Willow Bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Salix alba has 17 reported phytochemicals identified across 25 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include salicin, flavonoids, tannins, salicylic acid, 1,2-decanediol.
- Total chemicals
- 17
- Scientific sources
- 25
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| salicin | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| salicylic acid | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 1,2-decanediol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Kynurenic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Salicin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| acetylsalicylic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aspirin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phenols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Salix alba has 7 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antacid, Antiangiogenic, Antiinflammatory, Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antacid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiangiogenic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiinflammatory | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antipyretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytoprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Salix alba has 13 reported medicinal uses identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include pain, inflammation, acne vulgaris, antacid, central nervous system disorders.
- Total uses
- 13
- Scientific sources
- 16
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pain | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| acne vulgaris | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antacid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| central nervous system disorders | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fever | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fevers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| infection | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| influenza A virus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| jaundice | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |