Comfrey, Symphytum

The FDA issued a consumer advisory in 2001 about the dietary supplement comfrey (Symphytum officionale, Symphytum aspe-rum, and Symphytum x. uplandicum), sometimes recommended for digestive problems, because the product may be associated with liver disease. 

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) Uses Topical treatment of wounds, bruises, sprains, inflammation Action Multiple chemical components, allantoin promotes cell division, rosmarinic acid has anti-inflammatory effects, tannin possesses astringent effects, mucilage is a demulcent w/ anti-inflammatory properties, pyrrolizidine alkaloids cause hepatotox Available forms Topical application w/ 5—20% of herb applied on intact skin for up to 10 d Contra Do not take orally d/t hepatotox, do not use if PRG or w/ lactation Notes/SE N/V, exfoliative dermatitis w/ topical use Interactions T Risk of hepatotox W/ ingestion of borage, golden ragwort, hemp, Petasites EMS None... 

Comfrey (Symphytum officionale). Ointments made from comfrey are used topically for wound and bone healing. Comfrey tea and pills have been prescribed by herbalists to treat gastrointestinal ulcers and diarrhea. However, the FDA advised dietary supplement manufacturers to take comfrey off the market in 2001 because of the gathering evidence that comfrey taken internally causes severe liver toxicity. The FDA also noted the lack of evidence for comfrey s effectiveness. Comfrey should not be used by pregnant women or breastfeeding mothers. 

Russian comfrey (Symphytum x uplandicum Nyman) is widely recommended as a medicinal herb and an item of human diet. A previous investigation of this species led to the isolation of three alkaloids which were not fully characterized (cf. Vol. 7, p. 57). Culvenor and co-workers have separated eight pyrrolizidine alkaloids from the leaves of this perennial plant by counter-current distribution.21 The known alkaloids echimidine (51), symphytine (52), lycopsamine (53), and intermedine (54) were present. In addition, four new alkaloids, i.e. 7-acetyl-lycopsamine (55), 7-acetylintermedine (56), symlandine (57), and uplandicine (58), were characterized by spectroscopic methods, and by hydrolysis. The total alkaloidal extract caused chronic hepatotoxic effects in rats, and the authors... 

Comfrey Symphytum species Leaves and roots Internal digestive aid, topical for wound healing Pyrrolizidine alkaloids, hepatotoxicity Avoid internal ingestion topical use should be limited to 4-6 weeks... 

Botanical identification involves both macroscopical and microscopical inspection of the raw material. According to WHO, the macroscopical identity of plant materials is based on the shape, size, colour, surface characteristics, texture, fracture and appearance of the cut surface of leaves, herbs, seeds, fruits, barks, stolons, rhizomes and roots. Literature reports of poisonings and deaths resulting from the consumption of Digitalis collected by mistake for Comfrey (Symphytum) and of Oleander instead of Eucalyptus leaf tea highlights the importance of this simple and basic part of the quality procedure. 

Comfrey Symphytum officinale Blackwort, slippery root... 

This technique has now been extended for use on h.p.l.c., and the alkaloids from comfrey (Symphytum spp.) were separated. Diastereoisomeric pyrrolizidine alkaloid monoesters containing a vicinal diol were previously separated as their borate complexes (cf. Vol. 12, p. 62). Related diastereoisomeric alkaloids have... 

Russian comfrey Symphytum X uplandicum) makes an excellent organic liquid feed for plants. Wait for a year after planting the comfrey, then cut leaves from April to September. Pile the leaves in a container with a Vi in (4-6 mm) wide hole or a faucet at the bottom and cover. Drain the liquid (or let it drip into ajar). Use diluted 1 10 with water if the liquid is thin and brown, 1 20 if it is thick and dark, or store in a bottle for up to a year. 

Comfrey Symphytum officinale Anti-inflammatory gastritis diarrhea Hepatic veno-occlusive disease possible teratogen/carcinogen. (Note many other plants also contain hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids-see Table 11-46). 

Comfrey Symphytum officinaie 1,3 Irritant tannin and hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids... 

Couet, C.E., C. Crews, and A.B. Hanley. 1996. Analysis, separation, and bioassay of pyrrolizidine alkaloids from comfrey (Symphytum officinale). Nat. Toxins 4(4) 163-167. 

Culvenor, C.C., M. Clarke, J.A. Edgar, et al. 1980. Structure and toxicity of the alkaloids of Russian comfrey (Symphytum x uplandicum Nyman), a medicinal herb and item of human diet. Experientia 36(4) 377-379. 

Mel, N., L. Guo, L. Zhang, et al. 2006. Analysis of gene expression changes in relation to toxicity and tumorigenesis in the livers of Big Blue transgenic rats fed comfrey (Symphytum officinale). BMC Bioinformatics 7(Suppl. 2) S16. 

Oberlies, N.H., N.C. Kim, D.R. Brine, et al. 2004. Analysis of herbal teas made from the leaves of comfrey (Symphytum officinale) Reduction of N-oxides results in order of magnitude increases in the measurable concentration of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Public Health Nutr. 7(7) 919-924. 

Cometais Zinc Stearate. See Zinc stearate Comfrey extract Comfrey root extract. See Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) extract Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) extract CAS 84696-05-9 EINECS/ELINCS 283-625-3 Synonyms Comfrey extract Comfrey root extract Symphytum officinale Symphytum officinale extract Symphytum officinalis extract... 

Definition Extract of the rhizomes and roots of the comfrey, Symphytum officinaie Uses Botanical in cosmetics Manuf./Distrib. Bio-Botanica http //www.bio-botanica.com, Grau Aromatics http //WWW. grau-aromatics. de... 

Clintonia borealis extract Clover (Trifolium pratense) extract Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) extract Coffee (Coffea arabica) extract Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) extract Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) extract Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) extract Corn (Zea mays) extract Corn gluten amino acids Corn (Zea mays) gluten protein Crataegus monogina extract Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) extract Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) extract Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) extract Elder (Sambucus nigra) flower extract... 

Plants containing 1,2-dehydro-pyrrolizidine alkaloids may cause liver necrosis to domestic animals and humans. Therefore, care must be taken not to consume plants that are known to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, such as the flower stalks of Petasites japonicus (Asteraceae),comfrey Symphytum officinale (Boraginaceae), and Borago officinalis (Boraginaceae). Lycopsamine was isolated as a main alkaloid of Russian comffey (a hybrid of S. officinale and Symphytum asperum) [5]. 

---