PRODUCTS

ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID

Acetylsalicylic acid is a member of the class of benzoic acids that is salicylic acid in which the hydrogen that is attached to the phenolic hydroxy group has been replaced by an acetoxy group.
A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with cyclooxygenase inhibitor activity.
Acetylsalicylic acid has a role as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, a non-narcotic analgesic, a platelet aggregation inhibitor, an antipyretic, a cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitor, a cyclooxygenase 1 inhibitor, a prostaglandin antagonist, a teratogenic agent, an anticoagulant, a plant activator, an EC 1.1.1.188 (prostaglandin-F synthase) inhibitor, a drug allergen and a geroprotector.

CAS Number: 50-78-2
EC Number: 200-064-1
IUPAC Name: 2-acetyloxybenzoic acid
Chemical Formula: C9H8O4

Other names: aspirin, ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID, 50-78-2, 2-(Acetyloxy)benzoic acid, Acetosal, Acenterine, Acetophen, Acetosalin, Aspirdrops, Salcetogen, Aceticyl, Acetonyl, Acetylin, Acidum acetylsalicylicum, Benaspir, Empirin, Endydol, Measurin, Rhodine, Saletin, Enterosarine, Acetisal, Acetylsal, Aspirine, Bialpirinia, Entericin, Enterophen, Salacetin, Solpyron, Acesal, Acisal, Asagran, Asteric, Caprin, Duramax, Extren, Globoid, Helicon, Idragin, Rhonal, Aspro, Novid, Yasta, Benzoic acid, 2-(acetyloxy)-, Acimetten, Delgesic, Entrophen, Acetilum acidulatum, Acetilsalicilico, Dolean pH 8, Contrheuma retard, XAXA, Acido acetilsalicilico, Acide acetylsalicylique, Bayer, ASA, 8-hour Bayer, Asatard, Durlaza, Bayer Plus, Rheumin tabletten, Acetylsalicylsaeure, Azetylsalizylsaeure, SP 189, AC 5230, Acetylsalicyclic acid, Acetylsalicylicum acidum, Aspropharm, Cardioaspirin, CHEBI:15365, benzoic acid, 2-acetoxy-, ECM, NSC-27223, acide 2-(acetyloxy)benzoique, Bayer Extra Strength Aspirin for Migraine Pain, NSC-406186, R16CO5Y76E, DTXSID5020108, BAY1019036, DTXCID50108, AXOTAL COMPONENT ASPIRIN, AZDONE COMPONENT ASPIRIN, CODOXY COMPONENT ASPIRIN, AGGRENOX COMPONENT ASPIRIN, DUOCOVER COMPONENT ASPIRIN, EXCEDRIN COMPONENT ASPIRIN, FIORINAL COMPONENT ASPIRIN, NORGESIC COMPONENT ASPIRIN, PERCODAN COMPONENT ASPIRIN, Q-GESIC COMPONENT ASPIRIN, ROXIPRIN COMPONENT ASPIRIN, VICOPRIN COMPONENT ASPIRIN, YOSPRALA COMPONENT ASPIRIN, DUOPLAVIN COMPONENT ASPIRIN, EQUAGESIC COMPONENT ASPIRIN, INVAGESIC COMPONENT ASPIRIN, LANORINAL COMPONENT ASPIRIN, MICRAININ COMPONENT ASPIRIN, ROBAXISAL COMPONENT ASPIRIN, ORPHENGESIC COMPONENT ASPIRIN, SYNALGOS-DC COMPONENT ASPIRIN, NSC406186, MEPRO-ASPIRIN COMPONENT ASPIRIN, PERCODAN-DEMI COMPONENT ASPIRIN, PRAVIGARD PAC COMPONENT ASPIRIN, SOMA COMPOUND COMPONENT ASPIRIN, DARVON COMPOUND COMPONENT ASPIRIN, INVAGESIC FORTE COMPONENT ASPIRIN, TALWIN COMPOUND COMPONENT ASPIRIN, ORPHENGESIC FORTE COMPONENT ASPIRIN, ASPIRIN (MART.), ASPIRIN [MART.], ASPIRIN (USP-RS), ASPIRIN [USP-RS], ASPIRIN (USP MONOGRAPH), ASPIRIN [USP MONOGRAPH], vetality, Angettes, Aspirina, AspirinChewable, Cardiprin, Claragine, Encaprin, Fasprin, Medpurine

Acetylsalicylic acid is a member of benzoic acids, a member of salicylates and a member of phenyl acetates.
Acetylsalicylic acid is functionally related to a salicylic acid.
Acetylsalicylic acid is a conjugate acid of an acetylsalicylate.

Acetylsalicylic acid binds to and acetylates serine residues in cyclooxygenases, resulting in decreased synthesis of prostaglandin, platelet aggregation, and inflammation.
This agent exhibits analgesic, antipyretic, and anticoagulant properties.
Acetylsalicylic acid is an orally administered non-steroidal anti-inflamatory agent.

Acetylsalicylic acid is a commonly used drug for the treatment of pain and fever due to various causes.
Acetylsalicylic acid has both anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects.
Acetylsalicylic acid also inhibits platelet aggregation and is used in the prevention of blood clots stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI).

Interestingly, the results of various studies have demonstrated that long-term use of acetylsalicylic acid may decrease the risk of various cancers, including colorectal, esophageal, breast, lung, prostate, liver and skin cancer.
Acetylsalicylic acid is classified as a non-selective cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor and is available in many doses and forms, including chewable tablets, suppositories, extended release formulations, and others.

Acetylsalicylic acid should be kept out of reach from young children, toddlers, and infants.
Acetylsalicylic acid is a medication used to reduce pain, fever, or inflammation.
Specific inflammatory conditions which Acetylsalicylic acid is used to treat include Kawasaki disease, pericarditis, and rheumatic fever.

Acetylsalicylic acid given shortly after a heart attack decreases the risk of death.
Acetylsalicylic acid is also used long-term to help prevent further heart attacks, ischaemic strokes, and blood clots in people at high risk.
For pain or fever, effects typically begin within 30 minutes.
Acetylsalicylic acid is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and works similarly to other NSAIDs but also suppresses the normal functioning of platelets.

Acetylsalicylic acid, often used as an analgesic, anti-pyretic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is able to have an anti-platelet effect by inhibiting the COX activity in the platelet to prevent the production of thromboxane A2 which acts to bind platelets together during coagulation as well as cause vasoconstriction and bronchoconstriction.

A precursor to Acetylsalicylic acid found in leaves from the willow tree (genus Salix) has been used for its health effects for at least 2,400 years.
In 1853, chemist Charles Frédéric Gerhardt treated the medicine sodium salicylate with acetyl chloride to produce acetylsalicylic acid for the first time.
For the next 50 years, other chemists established the chemical structure and devised more efficient production methods.

Acetylsalicylic acid is one of the most widely used medications globally, with an estimated 40,000 tonnes (44,000 tons) (50 to 120 billion pills) consumed each year.
Acetylsalicylic acid is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.
Acetylsalicylic acid is available as a generic medication.
In 2019, Acetylsalicylic acid was the 38th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 18 million prescriptions.

Acetylsalicylic acid decomposes rapidly in solutions of ammonium acetate or the acetates, carbonates, citrates, or hydroxides of the alkali metals.
Acetylsalicylic acid is stable in dry air, but gradually hydrolyses in contact with moisture to acetic and salicylic acids.
In solution with alkalis, the hydrolysis proceeds rapidly and the clear solutions formed may consist entirely of acetate and salicylate.

The synthesis of Acetylsalicylic acid is classified as an esterification reaction.
Salicylic acid is treated with acetic anhydride, an acid derivative, causing a chemical reaction that turns salicylic acid's hydroxyl group into an ester group (R-OH → R-OCOCH3).
This process yields Acetylsalicylic acid and acetic acid, which is considered a byproduct of this reaction.
Small amounts of sulfuric acid (and occasionally phosphoric acid) are almost always used as a catalyst.
This method is commonly demonstrated in undergraduate teaching labs.

Acetylsalicylic acid, an acetyl derivative of salicylic acid, is a white, crystalline, weakly acidic substance, with a melting point of 136 °C (277 °F), and a boiling point of 140 °C (284 °F).
Acetylsalicylic acids acid dissociation constant (pKa) is 3.5 at 25 °C (77 °F).

Acetylsalicylic acid has a pKa value of 3.7.
The phenolic ester bond is susceptible to hydrolysis, especially at alkaline conditions.
In vivo, Acetylsalicylic acid is rapidly hydrolyzed by unspecific esterases of the plasma to the also pharmacologically active main metabolite salicylic acid.
Half-life of Acetylsalicylic acid in plasma is about 1 h.
SA is further metabolized by hydroxylation to gentisic acid, by conjugation with glycine to salicyluric acid and by other conjugation reactions.

Therefore, the target compound for analysis of ASA in biomatrices is SA, which is known to give deep purple complexes with iron-(III) ions, which can be used for salicylate spot test or colorimetric quantification.

Reducing the risk of cardiovascular death in suspected cases of myocardial infarction (MI).
Reducing the risk of a first non-fatal myocardial infarction in patients, and for reducing the risk
of morbidity and mortality in cases of unstable angina and in those who have had a prior myocardial infarction.

For reducing the risk of transient ischemic attacks (TIA) and to prevent atherothrombotic cerebral infarction (in conjunction with other treatments) Label.
For the prevention of thromboembolism after hip replacement surgery.

For decreasing platelet to platelet adhesion following carotid endarterectomy, aiding in the prevention of transient ischemic attacks (TIA).
Used for patients undergoing hemodialysis with a silicone rubber arteriovenous cannula inserted to prevent thrombosis at the insertion site.

Acetylsalicylic acid blocks the production of prostaglandins by inhibiting cyclooxygenase (prostaglandin H synthase), with greater selectivity toward the COX-1 isoform.
The antithrombotic effect is due to the inhibition of COX-1 in platelets that blocks thromboxane production and platelet aggregation.
Acetylsalicylic acid is chemopreventive against colorectal and other solid tumors.

Acetylsalicylic acid is an orally administered non-steroidal antiinflammatory agent.
Acetylsalicylic acid binds to and acetylates serine residues in cyclooxygenases, resulting in decreased synthesis of prostaglandin, platelet aggregation, and inflammation.
This agent exhibits analgesic, antipyretic, and anticoagulant properties.

Acetylsalicylic acid is prepared by chemical synthesis from salicylic acid, through acetylation with acetic anhydride.
The molecular weight of Acetylsalicylic acid is 180.16g/mol.
Acetylsalicylic acid is odourless, colourless to white crystals or crystalline powder.

Acetylsalicylic acid is an oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and the small intestine.
Acetylsalicylic acid is a non-selective NSAID as it irreversibly inhibits both cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes involved in converting arachidonic acid to prostaglandins and thromboxane3.

Prostaglandins are found throughout the body and are made to help manage injury or infection.
Prostaglandins upregulate the sensitivity of pain receptors.
As a control mechanism, they act locally at the site of synthesis which limits the extent of their activity.
They are also broken down rapidly by the body.
The enzymes that produce prostaglandins are cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), they have diverse roles and are widely dispersed throughout body tissue.

Cox-1 has a protective role for the stomach lining and COX-2 is involved in pain and inflammation.
Acetylsalicylic acid binds to and acetylates serine (an amino acid used by the body to make proteins) residues in the active site of cyclooxygenase enzymes, leading to reduced production of prostaglandin.
This in turn mediates Acetylsalicylic acid’s effect of reduced inflammation and pain in affected tissues.
Additionally, Acetylsalicylic acid acts on prostaglandins in the hypothalamus to reset and reduce a raised body temperature.
Importantly, Acetylsalicylic acid does not decrease normal body temperature.

From a cardiovascular perspective Acetylsalicylic acid also has an important role: Thromboxane A2 (TXA2) is a lipid that stimulates new platelet formation and increases platelet aggregation.
Acetylsalicylic acid inhibits the production of thromboxane A2 (TXA2) by stopping the conversion of arachidonic acid to TXA2.

This Acetylsalicylic acid effect is mediated via COX-1 inhibition within platelets and helps stop the platelets from sticking to each other or to plaques within the artery therefore reducing the risk of blood clot (thrombus) formation within the blood stream.
In this way Acetylsalicylic acid can help lower the risk of future myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke.

Acetylsalicylic acid, therefore, has an analgesic (reduces pain), anti-inflammatory (reduces redness and swelling), anti-platelet (reduces blood clots) and antipyretic (temperature reduction) effects.

In cancer, Acetylsalicylic acid is believed to impact a number of cancer signalling pathways and may induce or upregulate cancer suppressor genes.

Because Acetylsalicylic acid is a non- selective COX- 1 and COX-2 inhibitor, as well as its beneficial analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet and antipyretic effects its use can also result in peptic ulcer development and gastric bleeding.
Taking Acetylsalicylic acid and alcohol together can increase the risk of gastric bleeding.

Inside the body, Acetylsalicylic acid is converted into its active metabolite salicylate.
This happens mostly in the liver.
Peak concentration of salicylate in the plasma occurs approximately 1-2 hours after ingestion.
Excretion from the body is mainly through the kidney.
Alkaline urine speeds up the excretion of Acetylsalicylic acid.

It takes about 48 hours to excrete an Acetylsalicylic acid completely.
The half-life of Acetylsalicylic acid in the blood stream is 13-19 minutes and the half-life of its metabolite salicylate is around 3.5-4.5 hours.
Acetylsalicylic acid’s inhibition of COX-1 results in reduced platelet aggregation for the 7-10-day average lifespan of platelets.

There is a 60% structural similarity between COX-1 and COX-2 active sites: The active site of COX-2 is larger and this allows the precursor of prostaglandins, arachidonic acid, to be able to bypass Acetylsalicylic acid molecules at lower doses.
Therefore, a higher dose of Acetylsalicylic acid is required for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in comparison to its antiplatelet action.

The fact that COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes have different levels of sensitivity to Acetylsalicylic acid and recover their cyclooxygenase activity post Acetylsalicylic acid at different rates helps explain the different dosing regimens for Acetylsalicylic acids varying clinical indications.

Some drug interactions can occur when Acetylsalicylic acid is given with other medicines.
Acetylsalicylic acid can displace drugs from their plasma binding-sites and in this way may increases the effects of anticoagulant drugs and oral hypoglycaemics.
Acetylsalicylic acid can also inhibit urate secretion and should be avoided in gout.

Acetylsalicylic acid compounds or ASA have the chemical formula C9H8O4 which works to reduce the production of prostaglandins and their derivatives such as thromboxane A2.
With the performance of acetylsalicylic acid to reduce the amount of prostaglandin production, this drug has an anti-platelet aggregation and anti-inflammatory effect.

The active compound acetylsalicylic acid is useful for treating mild to moderate pain and fever.
In addition, the active compound acetylsalicylic acid is also useful for treating symptoms of heart disease and stroke.

Acetylsalicylic acid appears as a crystalline powder which is colourless to white.
Generally, Acetylsalicylic acid has no smell but when in moist air it acquires a smell of acetic acid.
Acetylsalicylic acid has a flashpoint of 482° F.
Acetylsalicylic acid is most widely used in medication to treat pain, inflammation, and fever.

Acetylsalicylic acid is one of the safest and most effective medicines and is extensively used medications globally, which is displayed on the WHO’s List of Essential Medicines.

Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is a potent, irreversible inhibitor of platelet aggregation but loses its action after first-pass deacetylation to salicylic acid ( SA).
Acetylsalicylic acid was launched into the pharmacy industry more than 100 years ago.
While initially conceived as an analgesic, doctors soon discovered that acetylsalicylic acid had many other medicinal benefits.

Medical use:
Acetylsalicylic acid is a weak acid, and very little of it is ionized in the stomach after oral administration.
Acetylsalicylic acid is quickly absorbed through the cell membrane in the acidic conditions of the stomach.
The increased pH and larger surface area of the small intestine causes Acetylsalicylic acid to be absorbed more slowly there, as more of it is ionized.
Owing to the formation of concretions, Acetylsalicylic acid is absorbed much more slowly during overdose, and plasma concentrations can continue to rise for up to 24 hours after ingestion.

About 50–80% of salicylate in the blood is bound to human serum albumin, while the rest remains in the active, ionized state; protein binding is concentration-dependent.
Saturation of binding sites leads to more free salicylate and increased toxicity.
The volume of distribution is 0.1–0.2 L/kg.
Acidosis increases the volume of distribution because of enhancement of tissue penetration of salicylates.

As much as 80% of therapeutic doses of salicylic acid is metabolized in the liver.
Conjugation with glycine forms salicyluric acid, and with glucuronic acid to form two different glucuronide esters.
The conjugate with the acetyl group intact is referred to as the acyl glucuronide; the deacetylated conjugate is the phenolic glucuronide.
These metabolic pathways have only a limited capacity.
Small amounts of salicylic acid are also hydroxylated to gentisic acid.
With large salicylate doses, the kinetics switch from first-order to zero-order, as metabolic pathways become saturated and renal excretion becomes increasingly important.

Salicylates are excreted mainly by the kidneys as salicyluric acid (75%), free salicylic acid (10%), salicylic phenol (10%), and acyl glucuronides (5%), gentisic acid (< 1%), and 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid.
When small doses (less than 250 mg in an adult) are ingested, all pathways proceed by first-order kinetics, with an elimination half-life of about 2.0 h to 4.5 h.
When higher doses of salicylate are ingested (more than 4 g), the half-life becomes much longer (15 h to 30 h), because the biotransformation pathways concerned with the formation of salicyluric acid and salicyl phenolic glucuronide become saturated.

Renal excretion of salicylic acid becomes increasingly important as the metabolic pathways become saturated, because it is extremely sensitive to changes in urinary pH.
A 10- to 20-fold increase in renal clearance occurs when urine pH is increased from 5 to 8.
The use of urinary alkalinization exploits this particular aspect of salicylate elimination.
It was found that short-term Acetylsalicylic acid use in therapeutic doses might precipitate reversible acute kidney injury when the patient was ill with glomerulonephritis or cirrhosis.
Acetylsalicylic acid for some patients with chronic kidney disease and some children with congestive heart failure was contraindicated.

Acetylsalicylic acid is used in the treatment of a number of conditions, including fever, pain, rheumatic fever, and inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, pericarditis, and Kawasaki disease.
Lower doses of Acetylsalicylic acid have also been shown to reduce the risk of death from a heart attack, or the risk of stroke in people who are at high risk or who have cardiovascular disease, but not in elderly people who are otherwise healthy.

There is some evidence that Acetylsalicylic acid is effective at preventing colorectal cancer, though the mechanisms of this effect are unclear.
In the United States, low-dose Acetylsalicylic acid is deemed reasonable in those between 50 and 70 years old who have a risk of cardiovascular disease over 10%, are not at an increased risk of bleeding, and are otherwise healthy.

Pain
Acetylsalicylic acid is an effective analgesic for acute pain, although it is generally considered inferior to ibuprofen because Acetylsalicylic acid is more likely to cause gastrointestinal bleeding.
Acetylsalicylic acid is generally ineffective for those pains caused by muscle cramps, bloating, gastric distension, or acute skin irritation.

As with other NSAIDs, combinations of Acetylsalicylic acid and caffeine provide slightly greater pain relief than Acetylsalicylic acid alone.
Effervescent formulations of Acetylsalicylic acid relieve pain faster than Acetylsalicylic acid in tablets, which makes them useful for the treatment of migraines.
Topical Acetylsalicylic acid may be effective for treating some types of neuropathic pain.

Acetylsalicylic acid, either by itself or in a combined formulation, effectively treats certain types of a headache, but its efficacy may be questionable for others.
Secondary headaches, meaning those caused by another disorder or trauma, should be promptly treated by a medical provider.
Among primary headaches, the International Classification of Headache Disorders distinguishes between tension headache (the most common), migraine, and cluster headache.

Acetylsalicylic acid or other over-the-counter analgesics are widely recognized as effective for the treatment of tension headache.
Acetylsalicylic acid, especially as a component of an Acetylsalicylic acid/paracetamol/caffeine combination, is considered a first-line therapy in the treatment of migraine, and comparable to lower doses of sumatriptan.
Acetylsalicylic acid is most effective at stopping migraines when they are first beginning.

Inflammation
Acetylsalicylic acid is used as an anti-inflammatory agent for both acute and long-term inflammation, as well as for treatment of inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Heart attacks and strokes
Acetylsalicylic acid is an important part of the treatment of those who have had a heart attack.
Acetylsalicylic acid is generally not recommended for routine use by people with no other health problems, including those over the age of 70.

For people who have already had a heart attack or stroke, taking Acetylsalicylic acid daily for two years prevented 1 in 50 from having a cardiovascular problem (heart attack, stroke, or death), but also caused non-fatal bleeding problems to occur in 1 of 400 people.
Data from early trials of Acetylsalicylic acid in primary prevention suggested low dose Acetylsalicylic acid is more beneficial for people <70 kg and high dose Acetylsalicylic acid is more beneficial for those ≥70 kg.

However, more recent trials have suggested lower dose Acetylsalicylic acid is not more efficacious in people with a low body weight and more evidence is required to determine the effect of higher dose Acetylsalicylic acid in people with a high body weight.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), in 2016, recommended initiating low-dose Acetylsalicylic acid use for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and colon cancer in adults aged 50 to 59 years who have a 10% or greater 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, are not at increased risk for bleeding, have a life expectancy of at least 10 years, and are willing to take low-dose Acetylsalicylic acid daily for at least 10 years.

However, in 2021, the USPSTF recommended against the routine use of daily Acetylsalicylic acid for primary prevention in adults in their 40s and 50s, citing the fact that the risk of side effects outweighs the potential benefits.
Individuals under 60 should first consult a healthcare provider before initiating daily Acetylsalicylic acid.

In those with no previous history of heart disease, Acetylsalicylic acid decreases the risk of a non-fatal myocardial infarction but increases the risk of bleeding and does not change the overall risk of death.
Specifically over 5 years it decreased the risk of a cardiovascular event by 1 in 265 and increased the risk of bleeding by 1 in 210.

Acetylsalicylic acid appears to offer little benefit to those at lower risk of heart attack or stroke—for instance, those without a history of these events or with pre-existing disease.
Some studies recommend Acetylsalicylic acid on a case-by-case basis, while others have suggested the risks of other events, such as gastrointestinal bleeding, were enough to outweigh any potential benefit, and recommended against using Acetylsalicylic acid for primary prevention entirely.
Acetylsalicylic acid has also been suggested as a component of a polypill for prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Complicating the use of Acetylsalicylic acid for prevention is the phenomenon of Acetylsalicylic acid resistance.
For people who are resistant, Acetylsalicylic acid's efficacy is reduced.
Some authors have suggested testing regimens to identify people who are resistant to Acetylsalicylic acid.

After percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs), such as the placement of a coronary artery stent, a U.S.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality guideline recommends that Acetylsalicylic acid be taken indefinitely.
Frequently, Acetylsalicylic acid is combined with an ADP receptor inhibitor, such as clopidogrel, prasugrel, or ticagrelor to prevent blood clots.
This is called dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). Duration of DAPT was advised in the United States and European Union guidelines after the CURE and PRODIGY studies.

In 2020, the systematic review and network meta-analysis from Khan et al. showed promising benefits of short-term (< 6 months) DAPT followed by P2Y12 inhibitors in selected patients, as well as the benefits of extended-term (> 12 months) DAPT in high risk patients.
In conclusion, the optimal duration of DAPT after PCIs should be personalized after outweighing each patient's risks of ischemic events and risks of bleeding events with consideration of multiple patient-related and procedure-related factors.
Moreover, Acetylsalicylic acid should be continued indefinitely after DAPT is complete.

Cancer prevention
Acetylsalicylic acid may reduce the overall risk of both getting cancer and dying from cancer.
There is substantial evidence for lowering the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), but must be taken for at least 10–20 years to see this benefit.
Acetylsalicylic acid may also slightly reduce the risk of endometrial cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer.

Some conclude the benefits are greater than the risks due to bleeding in those at average risk.
Others are unclear if the benefits are greater than the risk.
Given this uncertainty, the 2007 United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines on this topic recommended against the use of Acetylsalicylic acid for prevention of CRC in people with average risk.

Nine years later however, the USPSTF issued a grade B recommendation for the use of low-dose Acetylsalicylic acid (75 to 100 mg/day) "for the primary prevention of CVD [cardiovascular disease] and CRC in adults 50 to 59 years of age who have a 10% or greater 10-year CVD risk, are not at increased risk for bleeding, have a life expectancy of at least 10 years, and are willing to take low-dose Acetylsalicylic acid daily for at least 10 years".

plant activator
Any compound that protects plants by activating their defence mechanisms.

drug allergen
Any drug which causes the onset of an allergic reaction.

geroprotector
Any compound that supports healthy aging, slows the biological aging process, or extends lifespan.

platelet aggregation inhibitor
A drug or agent which antagonizes or impairs any mechanism leading to blood platelet aggregation, whether during the phases of activation and shape change or following the dense-granule release reaction and stimulation of the prostaglandin-thromboxane system.

antipyretic
A drug that prevents or reduces fever by lowering the body temperature from a raised state.
An antipyretic will not affect the normal body temperature if one does not have fever.
Antipyretics cause the hypothalamus to override an interleukin-induced increase in temperature.
The body will then work to lower the temperature and the result is a reduction in fever.

prostaglandin antagonist
A compound that inhibits the action of prostaglandins.

anticoagulant
An agent that prevents blood clotting.

non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
An anti-inflammatory drug that is not a steroid.
In addition to anti-inflammatory actions, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have analgesic, antipyretic, and platelet-inhibitory actions.
They act by blocking the synthesis of prostaglandins by inhibiting cyclooxygenase, which converts arachidonic acid to cyclic endoperoxides, precursors of prostaglandins.

non-narcotic analgesic
A drug that has principally analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory actions.
Non-narcotic analgesics do not bind to opioid receptors.

Pain and swelling:

Acetylsalicylic acid can relieve mild to moderate pain, swelling, or both associated with many health issues, such as:

headaches
a cold or flu
sprains and strains
menstrual cramps
long-term conditions, such as arthritis and migraine

Preventing cardiovascular events:
The daily use of low-dose Acetylsalicylic acid can lower the risk of cardiovascular events in some people — it is not safe for everyone.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommend only using Acetylsalicylic acid in this way under the supervision of a doctor.

In people with a high risk of cardiovascular events, low-dose Acetylsalicylic acid can reduce the risk by preventing blood clots from forming.
A doctor may recommend daily low-dose Acetylsalicylic acid for people who :

have a heart or blood vessel disease
have evidence of poor blood flow to the brain
have high blood cholesterol
have high blood pressure, or hypertension
have diabetes
smoke