The effects of aspirinlike substances have been known since ancient times. Romans recorded the use of willow bark as a means of fighting fever. In the early nineteenth century it was discovered that the leaves and bark of the willow tree contain a substance called salicylic acid. Although salicylic acid reduced pain and fever, it also produced severe stomach upsets.
In 1832 French chemist Charles Frederic Gerhardt tried 'to eliminate these side effects by combining salicylic acid with acetyl chloride. But he found the process too time-consuming and gave up. In 1899 German chemist Felix Hoffmann (1868-1946), who worked for the Bayer pharmaceutical company, became aware of Gerhardt's work and sought the drug to relieve his father's arthritis symptoms. Hoffmann simplified the method and came up with acetylsalicylic acid. Hoffmann took a small phial home for his father, who had his first pain-free night for years. Hoffmann named the drug aspirin (taking the "a" from acetyl chloride and "spir" from Spiraea ulmaria, the plant from which salicylic acid is extracted).
Bayer began marketing aspirin in July 1899 with instant success. It was originally sold as a powder, but in 1914 the company introduced aspirin tablets. It was not until 1971 that British scientist John Vane identified how aspirin works; it reduces the production of certain prostaglandins (hormonelike chemicals) that are responsible for inflammation, pain, fever, and the clumping of blood platelets.
As well as its effects on pain and fever, aspirin is now known to reduce the risk of heart disease, pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, and even colon cancer.
