Aspirin

Aspirin, also known as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), is a compound that has been found to have neuroprotective effects at concentrations lower than those previously reported, inhibiting neuronal damage and excitatory amino acid release, NF-kappaB translocation to the nucleus, and iNOS expression 1. These effects are independent of COX inhibition, suggesting that aspirin's neuroprotective properties may be mediated through other mechanisms.

Aspirin has also been shown to have antioxidant properties, inhibiting silica-induced lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, NF-kappaB activation, and TNF-alpha production 3. Additionally, it has been found to protect against indomethacin-induced small intestinal damage in rats, mediated by salicylic acid 3.

In the context of cancer, aspirin has been found to inhibit tumor cell migration, invasiveness, and angiogenesis, retarding murine mammary tumor progression 3. Furthermore, salicylic acid, a metabolite of aspirin, has been shown to downregulate CXCR4 expression, which is involved in promoting invasion and metastasis in tumors 2.

Aspirin has also been used in the treatment of pre-eclampsia and intra-uterine growth retardation, with results demonstrating that prescription of aspirin at a dose of 100 mg/day can prevent recurrence or development of these conditions 4. Additionally, aspirin has been found to modulate the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal and -gonadal pathways, affecting steroid production in athletes 5.

It is worth noting that aspirin is broken down into acetic and salicylic acid when applied to skin or ingested, with salicylic acid being the active ingredient in terms of increasing metabolism and hair health 6.