Wintergreen Oil Chemical Properties

Boiling point:

219 °C(lit.)

alpha 

-0.5 º (NEAT)

Density 

1.181 g/mL at 25 °C(lit.)

FEMA 

3113 | WINTERGREEN OIL (GAULTHERIA PROCUMBENS L.)

refractive index 

n20/D 1.54

Flash point:

226 °F

storage temp. 

2-8°C

Odor

at 10.00 % in dipropylene glycol. fresh sweet wintergreen

Odor Type

minty

InChI

InChI=1S/C8H8O3/c1-11-8(10)6-4-2-3-5-7(6)9/h2-5,9H,1H3

InChIKey

OSWPMRLSEDHDFF-UHFFFAOYSA-N

SMILES

C(OC)(=O)C1=CC=CC=C1O

CAS DataBase Reference

68917-75-9(CAS DataBase Reference)

EPA Substance Registry System

Wintergreen oil (68917-75-9)

Safety Information

Hazard Codes 

Xn

Risk Statements 

22-36/38

Safety Statements 

26-36

WGK Germany 

1

RTECS 

VO4725000

F 

8

Wintergreen Oil Usage And Synthesis

Application

In medicinal use, wintergreen oil is primarily used as a topical erythematous agent, commonly for reducing swelling and relieving pain. However, due to side effects such as affecting the activity of iron ions in the blood, it is now rarely used in oral medications. Wintergreen oil has a local irritant effect, promoting local blood circulation. Topical application or application can produce vasodilation and redness of the skin, reflexively affecting the skin, muscles, nerves, and joints in the corresponding area, thus reducing swelling, inflammation, and pain, and also relieving itching. It can be used for sprains, contusions, back pain, muscle pain, neuralgia, and relieving itching.

Chemical Properties

Wintergreen essential oil is water steam-distilled from leaves charged into the still and allowed to macerate for several hours to hydrolyze the gaultherin glucoside (methyl salicylate + glucose). Distillation lasts from 5 to 6 hours and yields approximately 0.7% essential oil. The oil is often adulterated by intentionally co-distilling sweet birth (Betula lenta) bark. FCC (1996) has described wintergreen oil as obtained from the leaves of G. procumbens and bark of B. lenta. The oil has a strong, sweet, aromatic odor reminiscent of methyl salicylate, its main constituent.

Physical properties

Wintergreen oil is a colorless, yellowish or reddish liquid. It boils with decomposition between 219 to 224°C. It is soluble in alcohol and in glacial acetic acid, and it is very slightly soluble in water.

Definition

Extractives and their physically modified derivatives. Gaultheria procumbens, Ericacenae or Betula lenta, Betulaceae.

Essential oil composition

The oil contains approximately 98% methyl salicylate.

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