Tag: Esterase

The well-known anti-inflammatory and antiplatelet drug aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) has an astonishingly short plasma half-life of just 15 to 20 minutes. This rapid degradation is a direct result of several key enzymes that metabolize aspirin almost immediately upon absorption, converting it into its main active metabolite, salicylic acid, and other excretable compounds.

After oral ingestion, acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) is rapidly hydrolyzed into its main active metabolite, salicylic acid, a process so quick that aspirin's plasma half-life is only about 15–20 minutes. This conversion relies on a family of enzymes known as esterases, particularly the aptly named aspirin esterase.