Salicin is a non-phenolic glucosidic compound extracted from meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria L). It is majorly used as a substitute for quinine. Salicin can be used as a therapeutic for patients suffering from rheumatic fever. Salicin acts a metabolic precursor for salicylic acid. It is a novel phytochemical that exhibits immunological cross functions in plants and humans. Salicin facilitates growth and reproduction in plants. In addition, It also protects plants against biotic and abiotic stress.

D-(-)-Salicin has been used:

• to study its in vitro anticoagulant and antiplatelet activities
• as a standard in high performance liquid chromatography method (HPLC) for quantitation of salicin from willow plant
• as a tastant in taste threshold assay
• as a constituent of nutrient agar-salicin medium for selective isolation of Lactobacillus paracasei

D-(−)-Salicin exerts anti-rheumatism and anti-inflammatory activities. It inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced inflammation in in vitro and in vivo studies. It regulates different signaling pathways such as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). It also regulates cytokines concentration such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α), interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10.