Common Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) has been used for centuries as a plant and herbal medicine in Asia, Europe and the UK. It grows mainly in the temperate regions of Central Europe, the Balkans, the Caucasus and Asia, as well as in the Marmara, Black Sea and Eastern Anatolia regions of Turkey, usually on damp grasslands and water margins.

Comfrey is characterised by its pyrrolizidine alkaloid constituents. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are found in many plant species throughout the world and are often associated with human consumption. In addition to the toxicity these molecules can cause in humans and animals, they are also known for their broad pharmacological properties that can be exploited in drug discovery programmes. Mixtures made from its leaves and roots to treat sprains, bruises or broken bones often reflect its historic use. Comfrey leaf is used by modern herbalists both internally and externally as an ointment or compress to heal tissue, stop bleeding and repair bones.

Chemical composition:

Alkaloids: Pyrrolizidine-type. 0.3%. Symphytine, symlandine, echimidine, intermidine, lycopsamine, myoscorpine, acetyllycopsamine, acetylintermidine, lasiocarpine, heliosupine, viridiflorine ve echiumine.

Carbohydrates: Gum (arabinose, glucuronic acid, mannose, rhamnose, xylose); mucilage (glucose, fructose).

Tannins: Pyrocatechol type. 2.4%

Triterpenes: Sitosterol, stigmasterol (phytosterols), steroidal saponins and isobauerenol.

Other ingredients: Allantoin 0.75-2.55%, caffeic acid, carotene 0.63%, chlorogenic acid, choline, lithospermic acid, rosmarinic acid and silicic acid.

In vitro and animal studies have documented wound healing and analgesic activity in rats given comfrey extract orally. Rosmarinic acid isolated from comfrey is one of the major constituents with in vitro anti-inflammatory activity. Its biological activity was determined by inhibiting the formation of malonic dialdehyde in human platelets.