Salix alba. S. fragilis, S. purpeurea, S. pentandra   White willow bark    Family: Salicaeae   
Ancient remedy, that is usually considered to be the natural form and origin of the modern asperin.
PART USED: Dry bark
TASTE: Astringent and bitter ODOR: Slight
ACTIONS
1. Anti-inflammatory.[1,3]
2. Antirheumatic.[1]
3. Antipyretic.[1,3]
4. Antihidrotic.[1]
5. Analgesic.[1,3]
6. Antiseptic.[1]
7. Astringent.[1]
8. Tonic.[3]
INDICATIONS
1. Muscular and arthrodial rheumatism with inflammation and pain.[1] Rheumatism.[3] Aches and pains of all kinds.[3]
2. Influenza and respiratory catarrh.[1]
3. Gouty arthritis.[1] Gout.[3]
4. Ankylosing spondylitis.[1]
5. Fevers.[3]
SPECIFIC INDICATIONS: Rheumatoid arthritis and other systemic connective-tissue disorders characterised by inflammatory changes.[1]
COMBINATIONS
- Rheumatoid arthritis, use with Cimicifuga, Celery and Guaiacum.
PREPARATIONS:  3X /day
Harvesting: Strip the bark from the young branches of Salix alba varieties of willow in the Spring just before the sap begins to run, when the branches are rich with their new spring colour. This is the easiest time to separate the bark from the branch. The bark will peel off in strips. You can recognize Salix alba varieties by their brightly coloured bark in early spring — usually yellow, orange, or flaming red
Dry bark  1-3 g or by decoction.[1]
Liquid extract 1:1 in 25% alcohol,[12]  1-3 ml.[1]
    

ORIGIN: Britain and Central and Southern Europe.
DESCRIPTION: Tree. The bark occurs in thin channelled pieces up to about 2 cm wide and 2 mm thick. Outer surface glossy in young bark, wrinkled and duller in older bark, greenish or greyish brown; inn surface striated, fribrous, yellowish or reddish brown.
References
Constituents
Research

Efficacy and Safety of White Willow Bark (Salix alba) Extracts.
Shara M, Stohs SJ.
Abstract
Willow bark extract has been used for thousands of years as an anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and analgesic. In spite of its long history of use, relatively few human and animal studies have been published that confirm anecdotal observations. A small number of clinical studies have been conducted that support the use of willow bark extracts in chronic lower back and joint pain and osteoarthritis. Willow bark extracts also are widely used in sports performance and weight loss products presumably because of anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities, although no human studies have been published that specifically and directly document beneficial effects. In recent years, various in vitro and animal studies have demonstrated that the anti-inflammatory activity of willow bark extract is associated with down regulation of the inflammatory mediators tumor necrosis factor-a and nuclear factor-kappa B. Although willow bark extracts are generally standardized to salicin, other ingredients in the extracts including other salicylates as well as polyphenols, and flavonoids may also play prominent roles in the therapeutic actions. Adverse effects appear to be minimal as compared to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs including aspirin. The primary cause for concern may relate to allergic reactions in salicylate-sensitive individuals.
PMID: 25997859 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5377  Phytother Res. 2015 Aug;29(8):1112-6. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5377. Epub 2015 May 22. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Salix alba attenuated oxidative stress in the heart and kidney of hypercholesterolemic rabbits
Narges Amel Zabihi, Maryam Mahmoudabady, Mohammad Soukhtanloo, Parichehr Hayatdavoudi, Farimah Beheshti, and Saeed Niazmand
Abstract
Objective:
Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the development of hypercholesterolemia-induced complications. This study evaluated the effects of aspirin and Salix alba hydroethanolic extract on oxidative stress in the heart and kidney of hypercholesterolemic rabbits.
Materials and Methods:
The antioxidant activity, as well as total phenolic and salicin content of S. alba (Sa) extract were assessed by DPPH radical scavenging activity, Folin-Ciocalteu and HPLC methods, respectively. Animals were divided into two groups of control (fed with normal chow), and HD (fed with high cholesterol diet for 6 weeks). Then, hypercholesterolemic animals allocated to the following treatment groups: CHO (received HD), Sa extract (HD plus extract 60 and 120 mg/kg), and aspirin (HD plus aspirin 120 mg/kg) and received the treatments on a daily basis for 6 weeks. MDA, GSH, and nitrite concentrations as well as the activities of SOD and CAT were evaluated in cardiac and kidney tissues.
Results:
The scavenging activity, total phenolic content and salicin were 19.1 µg/ml (IC50), 153.75 ± 3.6 mg of gallic acid/g, and 18.03 µg/mg, respectively. In comparison to CHO group, MDA levels were diminished in Sa and ASA groups but GSH levels were improved. NO metabolites increased in the heart of Sa 120 mg/kg group and in the kidney of all Sa and ASA treated groups. SOD activity increased only in the heart of Sa groups and in the kidney of Sa and ASA groups. CAT activity increased in the heart and kidney tissues of all Sa and ASA treated groups.
Conclusion:
The results showed S. alba extract improved redox homeostasis in heart and kidney tissues of hypercholesterolemic rabbits. The extract antioxidant property may be related to its phenolic content.
Avicenna J Phytomed. 2018 Jan-Feb; 8(1): 63–72.
PMCID: PMC5784080
PMID: 29379769 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Study of Interactions between Active Compounds of Coffee and Willow (Salix sp.) Bark Water Extract
Agata Durak* and Urszula Gawlik-Dziki
Abstract
Coffee and willow are known as valuable sources of biologically active phytochemicals such as chlorogenic acid, caffeine, and salicin. The aim of the study was to determine the interactions between the active compounds contained in water extracts from coffee and bark of willow (Salix purpurea and Salix myrsinifolia). Raw materials and their mixtures were characterized by multidirectional antioxidant activities; however, bioactive constituents interacted with each other. Synergism was observed for ability of inhibition of lipid peroxidation and reducing power, whereas compounds able to scavenge ABTS radical cation acted antagonistically. Additionally, phytochemicals from willow bark possessed hydrophilic character and thermostability which justifies their potential use as an ingredient in coffee beverages. Proposed mixtures may be used in the prophylaxis or treatment of some civilization diseases linked with oxidative stress. Most importantly, strong synergism observed for phytochemicals able to prevent lipids against oxidation may suggest protective effect for cell membrane phospholipids. Obtained results indicate that extracts from bark tested Salix genotypes as an ingredient in coffee beverages can provide health promoting benefits to the consumers; however, this issue requires further study.
Biomed Res Int. 2014; 2014: 386953.
Published online 2014 Jun 11. doi: 10.1155/2014/386953
PMCID: PMC4071790 PMID: 25013777 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

In vivo toxicogenic potential of Salix alba (Salicaceae) bark extract
Edson Luis Maistro, Peterson Menezes Terrazzas, Alexandra Christinie Helena Frankland Sawaya, Paulo Cesar Pires Rosa, Fábio Ferreira Perazzo, Isabel O'Neill de Mascarenhas Gaivão
Abstract
Salix alba (white willow) bark extract is widely used for conditions associated with inflammation, fever, microbial infection or pain. Exposure of human cultured leukocytes to S. alba in vitro noted a genotoxic response. However, data regarding the influence of this bark extract on DNA damage in vivo are lacking. The main goal of this study was to examine the potential of S.alba bark extract to induce DNA damage and chromosome aberrations in an in vivo model using cells obtained from male Swiss albino mice administered the compound orally. The extract was administered by oral gavage daily for 7 days at doses of 500, 1000, or 2000 mg/kg b.w. Genotoxicity analysis was performed using the comet assay on peripheral blood leukocytes, as well as liver, bone marrow, heart, and testicular cells collected 4 hr after the last treatment and the micronucleus (MN) test on bone marrow cells. In essence cells were collected 28 hr after the penultimate treatment Data demonstrated that S. alba bark extract did not induce significant DNA damage in any cell types examined, or clastogenic/aneugenic effects as detected by the MN test at the three tested doses. Under these experimental conditions, evidence indicates that S.alba bark extract did not initiate genotoxic or chromosome aberrations in various mouse cells investigated.
J Toxicol Environ Health A 2022 Feb 1;85(3):121-130. doi: 10.1080/15287394.2021.1989351. Epub 2021 Oct 21. PMID: 34674609 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov