Monotropitoside (gaultherin) is a natural plant-extracted salicylate derivative that can be used as a natural aspirin substitute. Gaultherin is the major constituent of salicylate derivatives fraction (SDF) isolated from Gaultheria yunnanensis, medicinal plant widely used in Chinese traditional medicine for the treatments of rheumatoid arthritis, swellings, pain, trauma, chronic tracheitis, cold and vertigo. In animal studies gaultherin showed to be a potent inhibitor of pain and acute inflammation like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Gaultherin demonstrated analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in rodents lacking gastric ulcerogenic effect compared to aspirin exhibiting the peripheral analgesic properties rather than central analgesic effects. The study of gaultherin metabolism in mice and rats indicated that gaultherin could be metabolically converted to salicylate, which produced the pharmacological effects, and provided effective concentrations for an extended period. In vitro metabolism experiments demonstrated that gaultherin was metabolized by beta-glycosidase produced by human intestinal bacteria and esterases in intestine, blood and liver successively to release salicylate. Gaultherin, has a similar chemical structure to aspirin which suggests that gaultherin or some active metabolites could inhibit cyclooxygenase activity.

Phenol is an industrially important organic compound, produced on a large scale and used as a precursor to many materials and useful compounds. Phenol and its vapors are corrosive to the eyes, the skin, and the respiratory tract. The corrosive effect on skin and mucous membranes is due to a protein-degenerating effect. In medicine, phenol is used as an antiseptic and disinfectant. Phenol is also used as an oral analgesic or anesthetic in products such as Chloraseptic to treat sore throat pain, sore mouth, pain associated with canker sores and minor mouth irritation. Additionally, phenol and its related compounds are used in surgical ingrown toenail treatment, a process termed phenolization.