title: The aspirin story - from willow to wonder drug.
abstract: The story of the discovery of aspirin stretches back more than 3500 years to when bark from the willow tree was used as a pain reliever and antipyretic. It involves an Oxfordshire clergyman, scientists at a German dye manufacturer, a Nobel Prize-winning discovery and a series of pivotal clinical trials. Aspirin is now the most commonly used drug in the world. Its role in preventing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease has been revolutionary and one of the biggest pharmaceutical success stories of the last century.
authors.affiliation: NHS Blood and Transplant, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.|Oxford Clinical Research in Transfusion Medicine, Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Michael J R
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1951-5616
authors.initials: MJR
authors.lastname: Desborough
authors.affiliation: Oxford Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: David M
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6779-6566
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Keeling
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000266:history / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058633:Antipyretics / Q000266:history / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000266:history / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000266:history / Q000517:prevention & control; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000266:history; D005544:Forecasting; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000266:history / Q000517:prevention & control; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000266:history; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D024301:Plant Bark; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000266:history / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D032108:Salix
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D058633:Antipyretics; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin
keywords: acetylsalicylic acid; antiplatelet agent; aspirin; history; willow