Symphytum officinale (Comfrey) : medicinal properties in alcoholic extraction

Symphytum officinale (Comfrey, Common comfrey, Konsoud, Consoude, Consoude officinale) — family Boraginacées.

Scientific synonyms : Symphytum bohemicum F.W. Schmidt, S elatum Tausch, S majus Bubani, S microcalyx Opiz, S molle Janka, S officinale subsp bohemicum (F.W. Schmidt) Celak. S officinale var, ochroleucum DC., S officinale var, rectiflorum Tous. & H, S patens Sibth., S tanaicense Steven, S peregrinum Ledeb..

Recognised external sources linked to this monograph: TRAMIL and French Pharmacopoeia.

This database documents alcoholic (ethanol) extractions of active substances. Our monograph currently lists 5 indications in alcoholic extraction for this species. The Lapo v2 catalogue records 62 scientific references for this species (full detail in the application).

Important — scientific references on this public page: only a short excerpt of each cited source is shown (selected abstract sentences), kept in the original language of the publication (most often English), without translation. These excerpts are not the full article text and are not a complete bibliography. The full reference records and complete monographic detail are available in the Lapo v2 application (free 30-day trial).

1. 1

   Cancer: adjuvant treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma

   Plant part used: Sheet.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to Pereira Lavieri Gomes (2010)

     Excerpt Symphytum officinale (L.) (Boraginaceae) is a very popular plant used for therapeutic purposes. Since the 1980s, its effects have been studied in long-term carcinogenesis studies, in which SO extract is administered at high doses during several months & the neoplastic hepatic lesions are evaluated.

   • According to Mei N (2006)

     Excerpt Among these genes, there were 1,617 genes associated by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis with particular functions, & the differentially expressed genes in comfrey-fed rat livers were involved in metabolism, injury of endothelial cells, & liver injury & abnormalities, including liver fibrosis & cancer development. Our previous study suggested that comfrey induces liver tumors by a genotoxic mechanism and that the pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the plant are responsible for mutation induction & tumor initiation in rat liver.

   • According to Hirono I (n.d.)

     Excerpt The carcinogenicity of Symphytum officinale L., Russian comfrey, used as a green vegetable or tonic, was studied in inbred ACI rats. Hepatocellular adenomas were induced in all experimental groups that received the diets containing comfrey roots & leaves.

   • According to Nastic N (2020)

     Excerpt officinale root was investigated for all applied techniques.

   • According to Ezejindu DN (2015)

     Excerpt The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of aqueous extract of Symphytum officinale leaf (common comfrey) on the liver of adult Wistar rats. The results of this study revealed that consumption of SO in low dose or small amount had no effect on the histological appearance of the liver but when consumed in high dose or excessive induced mild distortion of histological liver appearance which includes mild central vein hypertrophy, increased cellularity & periportal fibrosis of liver cells.

2. 2

   Inflammatory condition: adjunctive treatment: osteoarthritis, arthritis, rheumatism, oedema

   Plant part used: Root.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to VOSTINARU O (2017)

     Excerpt The present work evaluated the anti-inflammatory & antinociceptive activity of a Symphytum officinale root extract standardized in rosmarinic acid. The anti-inflammatory effect of the hydro-Glycero- alcoholic extract administered orally was assessed by the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema method while the antinociceptive effect was determined by the acetic acid induced writhing test in mice & by Randall Selitto test in rats.

   • According to Kumar DTY (2020)

     Excerpt The present study was carried out to assess the possible anti-inflammatory effect of methanolic extract of roots of S officinale MERSO) using egg white-induced edema in rats (acute model of inflammation). The anti-inflammatory effect of MERSO was evaluated in acute inflammation model using 30 Wistar albino rats & divided into five groups including normal saline 10 ml/kg orally, diclofenac 5 mg/kg IP & MERSO 250,500 & 700mg/kg b.wt orally.

   • According to Seigner J (2019)

     Excerpt Symphytum officinale, commonly known as comfrey, constitutes a traditional medicinal plant with a long-standing therapeutic history, & preparations thereof have been widely used for the treatment of painful muscle & joint complaints, wound and bone healing, & inflammation. Today, its topical use is based on its analgesic & anti-inflammatory effects, which have been substantiated by modern clinical trials.

   • According to Trifan A (2020)

     Excerpt officinale root may contribute to the overall anti-inflammatory activity for which comfrey preparations are used in traditional medicine,. officinale & evaluate their antioxidant potential, alongside their effect on the cytokine production of ex vivo stimulated neutrophils, thus providing scientific support for the traditional use of comfrey root.

   • According to Zakaria MM (2021)

     Excerpt Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is a medicinal plant with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, & proliferative properties.

3. 3

   Pain, hyperalgesia

   Plant part used: Root.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to VOSTINARU O (2017)

     Excerpt officinale extract (500 mg/kg, orally) demonstrated a strong peripheral antinociceptive effect in the first two hours after administration increasing the pain threshold by 58%. The present work evaluated the anti-inflammatory & antinociceptive activity of a Symphytum officinale root extract standardized in rosmarinic acid.

   • According to Mazzochi A (2012)

     Excerpt Conclusions: Adding Symphytum 5CH to conventional analgesia may reduce pain & swelling after minor dental implant surgery. To assess the effect of Symphytum 5CH on the postoperative pain & swelling after placement of a titanium dental implant.

   • According to Smith DB (2011)

     Excerpt The subjects were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: 10% or 20% comfrey root extract (Symphytum officinale) or a placebo cream. Results: Repeated-measures analyses of variance yielded significant differences in all of the Western Ontario & Macmaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index categories (pain P < .01, stiffness P < .01, daily function P < .01), confirming that the 10% & 20% comfrey-based creams were superior to the reference cream.

   • According to Masoudi M (2017)

     Excerpt Result: the result of this study indicated that Symphytum officinale possess anti-cancer & osteoarthritic pain activity. Conclusion: based on the result, S officinale was shown to be effective in carcinoma treatment as well as being effective in relieving pain & stiffness and in improving physical functioning & were superior to placebo in those with primary osteoarthritis of the knee without serious adverse effects,.

   • According to Frost R (2013)

     Excerpt External preparations of the herb comfrey (most commonly Symphytum officinale L.) are widely available for over-the-counter, practitioner & healthcare professional usage. Results: Of 1348 identified records, 64 full texts were screened for inclusion & 26 were included in the review – 13 RCTs, 5 non-randomised controlled trials and 8 observational studies evaluating treatments for ankle distortion, back pain, abrasion wounds, venous leg ulcers & osteoarthritis.

Further indications (including other extraction modes where applicable), dosages, precautions for use, and the <strong>full scientific references</strong> (complete records, not only the short excerpts above) are available in the complete monographic record in the Lapo v2 application.