Dermatopharmacology of salicylic acid. II. Epidermal antihyperplastic effect of salicylic acid in animals.

The influence of salicylic acid on pathological epithelial proliferation has been evaluated by means of the peidermal hyperplasia inhibition test in the guinea pig. 3% w/w salicylic acid dissolved in ethanol reduced surface epithelial hyperplasia by 15%, i.e. exhibited activity comparable to that of hydrocortisone 0.1% w/w. 1% w/w salicylic acid dissolved in a dimethylacetamide-acetone-ethanol mixture exerted an even greater degree of antihyperplastic activity on the surface epithelium (-18%) and also a marked inhibitory effect on deep epithelial proliferation (-10%).