Symphytum x uplandicum

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. 

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... 

Commercial comfrey is usually derived from the leaves or roots of Symphytum officinale (common comfrey) (USP, 1998). However, some products are derived from Symphytum x uplandicum Nyman (Russian comfrey) or Symphytum asperum Lepech (prickly comfrey), which appear to be more toxic than common comfrey (Anonymous, 1998). Russian comfrey and prickly comfrey contain a very toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) called echimidine that common comfrey does not contain (Tyler, 1994). Although common comfrey does not contain echimidine, it does contain other hepatotoxic PAs. These alkaloids include 7-acetylintermedine, 7-acetyllycopsamine, their unacetylated precursors, and symphytine (Tyler, 1993). 

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. 

A number of recent studies of the pyrrolizidine alkaloids in various Symphytum species have succeeded in characterizing twelve mono- and di-ester alkaloids of retronecine and hellotridine (31, 95-104). We have examined twelve samples each of comfrey root and leaf sold as herbs in the U.S. As determined by nmr, the total alkaloid content of the leaf samples was < 0.005% the roots, on the other hand, contained from 0.14-0.42% (130). Examination of the root alkaloid mixture by capillary gc-ms after derivatization allowed identification of seven alkaloids (Figures 4 and 7) in all of the samples the first four peaks, lycopsamine, intermedlne, and their 7-acetyl derivatives, accounted for 75% or more of the total alkaloids. The same seven alkaloids have been found in Russian comfrey, a cross between Symphytum officinale and asperum, sometimes called Symphytum X uplandIcum (31,96,104). 

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. 

Eutrochium fistulosum herb, root, and rhizome Eutrochium maculatum herb, root, and rhizome Eutrochium purpureum herb, root, and rhizome Symphytum asperum leaf, root Symphytum officinale leaf, root Symphytum x uplandicum leaf, root Tussdago farfarc flower, leaf. 

Source Symphytum officinale L. Symphytum X uplandicum Nym. S. asperum Lepechin. (Family Boraginaceae). 

Symphytum x uplandicum Nyman Heliotridine or retronecine esters Echimidine, symphytine, lycopsamine, intermedine, 7-acetyllycopsamine, 7-acetylindicine, symlandine, uplandicine 222) (79) ... 

Symphytum officinale (L.), S. tuberosum, Sympytum x uplandicum Nyman (Russian comfrey, a hybrid of S. officinale and S. asperum) (Anonymous, 1995), Symphytum asperum Lepech (prickly comfrey) (USP, 1998), boneset, knitback, knitbone (Awang, 1987), consound, common comfrey, blackwort, bruisewort, slippery root, yalluc, gum plant, consolida, ass ear (Grieve, 1971)... 

---