Salicylic acid is an aromatic phenolic derivative. It plays an important role in various physiological processes in plants, such as thermogenesis, ethylene synthesis and fruit ripening.
Salicylic acid is a monohydroxybenzoic acid that is benzoic acid with a hydroxy group at the ortho position. It is obtained from the bark of the white willow and wintergreen leaves. It has a role as an antiinfective agent, an antifungal agent, a keratolytic drug.It is a conjugate acid of a salicylate.