This article is about the plants of the genus Gaultheria that are commonly known as wintergreen. For other uses, see Wintergreen (disambiguation).
Wintergreen is a group of aromatic plants.[1] The term "wintergreen" once commonly referred to plants that remain green (continue photosynthesis) throughout the winter. The term "evergreen" is now more commonly used for this characteristic.
Most species of the shrub genus Gaultheria demonstrate this characteristic and are called wintergreens in North America, the most common generally being the American wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens).[2] Wintergreens in the genus Gaultheria contain an aromatic compound, methyl salicylate, and are used as a mintlike flavoring.
Wintergreen oil is an ingredient in some vegetable-oil based lubricants used in firearm maintenance. These products, sold under the names Seal1 and Frog Lube, are proprietary blends of vegetable oils intended to clean, lubricate and preserve the metal surfaces of firearms.[4] They have the advantages over petroleum-based products of being non-toxic and biodegradable.
Artificial wintergreen oil, which is pure methyl salicylate, is used in microscopy because of its high refractive index.[5] Natural wintergreen oil can be distinguished from artificial by gas chromatography (GC) and GC isotope ratio mass spectrometry analysis.[6]
Oil
Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) essential oil
The Gaultheria species share the common characteristic of producing oil of wintergreen. Wintergreen oil is a pale yellow or pinkish fluid liquid that is strongly aromatic with a sweet, woody odor (components: methyl salicylate (about 98%), α-pinene, myrcene, delta-3-carene, limonene, 3,7-guaiadiene, and delta-cadinene) that gives such plants a distinctive "medicinal" smell whenever bruised. Salicylate sensitivity is a common adverse reaction to the methyl salicylate in oil of wintergreen; it can produce allergy-like symptoms or asthma.[medical citation needed]
Wintergreen essential oil is usually obtained by steam distillation of the leaves of the plant following maceration in warm water. Methyl salicylate is not present in the plant until formed by enzymatic action from a glycoside within the leaves as they are macerated in warm water.[7] Oil of wintergreen is also manufactured from some species of birch, but these deciduous trees are not called wintergreens. Spiraea plants also contain methyl salicylate in large amounts and are used similarly to wintergreen. Wintergreen has a strong "minty" odor and flavor; however, the Gaultheria-genus plants are not true mints, which belong to the genus Mentha.
One milliliter (20 drops) of wintergreen oil is equivalent to about 1860 mg of aspirin, or almost six regular-strength adult aspirin tablets.[8]
Treatment is identical to the other salicylates. Early use of hemodialysis in conjunction with maximal supportive measures is encouraged in any significant ingestion of methyl salicylate.[9]
^Cecilia W. Lo, 2000. Developmental biology protocols, Volume 1, Springer in google books
^Murphy, Brett J.; Carlson, Richard E.; Howa, John D.; Wilson, Tyler M.; Buch, R. Michael (2021-09-03). "Determining the authenticity of methyl salicylate in Gaultheria procumbens L. and Betula lenta L. essential oils using isotope ratio mass spectrometry". Journal of Essential Oil Research. 33 (5): 442–451. doi:10.1080/10412905.2021.1925362. ISSN 1041-2905. S2CID 236342132.
^Essential Oil Profile of Wintergreen by Ingrid Krein
^Johnson, P. N.; Welch, D. W. (1984). "Methyl salicylate/aspirin (salicylate) equivalence: who do you trust?". Vet Hum Toxicol. 26 (4): 317–318. PMID 6464351.
^Howrie, D. L.; Moriaty, R.; Breit, R. (1985). "Candy flavoring as a source of salicylate poisoning". Pediatrics. 75 (5): 869–871. doi:10.1542/peds.75.5.869. PMID 3991273. S2CID 10089617.
Beck TR, Beck JB (1963). Elements of Medical Jurisprudence, ed 11. Philadelphia, JB Lippincott, 1963.
Stevenson CA (1937). "Oil of wintergreen poisoning". Med Sci 193:772–788.
McGuigan MA (1987). "A two-year review of salicylate deaths in Ontario". Arch Intern Med 147:510–512.
May 10, 2023
wintergreen, this, article, about, plants, genus, gaultheria, that, commonly, known, wintergreen, other, uses, disambiguation, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources. This article is about the plants of the genus Gaultheria that are commonly known as wintergreen For other uses see Wintergreen disambiguation This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Wintergreen news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message Wintergreen is a group of aromatic plants 1 The term wintergreen once commonly referred to plants that remain green continue photosynthesis throughout the winter The term evergreen is now more commonly used for this characteristic Gaultheria from Fountain Springs Pennsylvania Most species of the shrub genus Gaultheria demonstrate this characteristic and are called wintergreens in North America the most common generally being the American wintergreen Gaultheria procumbens 2 Wintergreens in the genus Gaultheria contain an aromatic compound methyl salicylate and are used as a mintlike flavoring Contents 1 Uses 2 Oil 3 Toxicity of oil 4 See also 5 ReferencesUses Edit Wintergreen from Greeley Pennsylvania early December The berries of most species can be eaten raw or used in pies 3 Wintergreen is a common flavoring in American products ranging from chewing gum mints and candies to smokeless tobacco such as dipping tobacco American dip snuff and snus It is a common flavoring for dental hygiene products such as mouthwash and toothpaste It is often a component of root beer which originated in the United States Wintergreen oil is an ingredient in some vegetable oil based lubricants used in firearm maintenance These products sold under the names Seal1 and Frog Lube are proprietary blends of vegetable oils intended to clean lubricate and preserve the metal surfaces of firearms 4 They have the advantages over petroleum based products of being non toxic and biodegradable Artificial wintergreen oil which is pure methyl salicylate is used in microscopy because of its high refractive index 5 Natural wintergreen oil can be distinguished from artificial by gas chromatography GC and GC isotope ratio mass spectrometry analysis 6 Oil EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Wintergreen news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Wintergreen Gaultheria procumbens essential oil The Gaultheria species share the common characteristic of producing oil of wintergreen Wintergreen oil is a pale yellow or pinkish fluid liquid that is strongly aromatic with a sweet woody odor components methyl salicylate about 98 a pinene myrcene delta 3 carene limonene 3 7 guaiadiene and delta cadinene that gives such plants a distinctive medicinal smell whenever bruised Salicylate sensitivity is a common adverse reaction to the methyl salicylate in oil of wintergreen it can produce allergy like symptoms or asthma medical citation needed Wintergreen essential oil is usually obtained by steam distillation of the leaves of the plant following maceration in warm water Methyl salicylate is not present in the plant until formed by enzymatic action from a glycoside within the leaves as they are macerated in warm water 7 Oil of wintergreen is also manufactured from some species of birch but these deciduous trees are not called wintergreens Spiraea plants also contain methyl salicylate in large amounts and are used similarly to wintergreen Wintergreen has a strong minty odor and flavor however the Gaultheria genus plants are not true mints which belong to the genus Mentha Wintergreen also is used in some perfumery applications and as a flavoring agent for toothpaste chewing gum soft drinks confectionery Listerine and mint flavorings Wintergreen is used for rust removal and degreasing of machinery and is particularly effective for breaking through sea water corrosion citation needed Toxicity of oil EditFurther information Methyl salicylate Safety and toxicity One milliliter 20 drops of wintergreen oil is equivalent to about 1860 mg of aspirin or almost six regular strength adult aspirin tablets 8 Treatment is identical to the other salicylates Early use of hemodialysis in conjunction with maximal supportive measures is encouraged in any significant ingestion of methyl salicylate 9 See also EditGaultheria humifusa alpine wintergreen Gaultheria ovatifolia western teaberry or Oregon spicy wintergreen Chimaphila maculata striped wintergreen Gaultheria fragrantissima fragrant wintergreenReferences Edit WINTERGREEN hort purdue edu Retrieved 2022 05 02 Wintergreen Gaultheria procumbens wildadirondacks org Retrieved 2022 05 02 Angier Bradford 1974 Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants Harrisburg PA Stackpole Books p 252 ISBN 0 8117 0616 8 OCLC 799792 Froglube Tracklube and Seal1 Laboratory Analysis Vuurwapen Blog 2016 01 14 Retrieved 2018 09 20 Cecilia W Lo 2000 Developmental biology protocols Volume 1 Springer in google books Murphy Brett J Carlson Richard E Howa John D Wilson Tyler M Buch R Michael 2021 09 03 Determining the authenticity of methyl salicylate in Gaultheria procumbens L and Betula lenta L essential oils using isotope ratio mass spectrometry Journal of Essential Oil Research 33 5 442 451 doi 10 1080 10412905 2021 1925362 ISSN 1041 2905 S2CID 236342132 Essential Oil Profile of Wintergreen by Ingrid Krein Johnson P N Welch D W 1984 Methyl salicylate aspirin salicylate equivalence who do you trust Vet Hum Toxicol 26 4 317 318 PMID 6464351 Howrie D L Moriaty R Breit R 1985 Candy flavoring as a source of salicylate poisoning Pediatrics 75 5 869 871 doi 10 1542 peds 75 5 869 PMID 3991273 S2CID 10089617 Beck TR Beck JB 1963 Elements of Medical Jurisprudence ed 11 Philadelphia JB Lippincott 1963 Stevenson CA 1937 Oil of wintergreen poisoning Med Sci 193 772 788 McGuigan MA 1987 A two year review of salicylate deaths in Ontario Arch Intern Med 147 510 512 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wintergreen amp oldid 1149413309, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
