SYMPHYTUM OFFICINALE EXTRACT

📋 Quick facts

Description: SYMPHYTUM OFFICINALE EXTRACT — soothing, supports wound healing (Comfrey; topical use only).

All Functions: soothing, supports wound healing (Comfrey; topical use only)

Quick Facts:

• Category: active

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Symphytum officinale (comfrey) extract contains rosmarinic acid and allantoin, compounds with antioxidant properties
• Research shows topical comfrey may have anti-inflammatory effects
• The plant also contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can cause serious liver damage
• Oral comfrey products are banned in the U.S. due to safety concerns
• Topical use during breastfeeding is considered unsafe by most sources

📊 Comedogenicity

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Symphytum officinale extract contains several bioactive compounds. The main ones identified in research are rosmarinic acid, allantoin, and phenolic acids like caffeic and chlorogenic acid (Nat Prod Res). These compounds give the extract #1: antioxidant activity—meaning it can neutralize harmful molecules called free radicals (Nat Prod Res, Front Pharmacol 2023). The extract also shows #2: anti-inflammatory potential. In laboratory studies on human cells, a hydroalcoholic comfrey root extract reduced the expression of inflammatory markers by interfering with NF-κB, a molecular switch that turns on inflammation genes (Front Pharmacol 2019). Additionally, #3: in test-tube studies, comfrey extract stimulated the metabolism and viability of human skin fibroblasts—the cells responsible for collagen and skin structure—without damaging their integrity (Nat Prod Res).

However, there is a significant safety concern. Comfrey contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, toxic compounds that can cause severe liver damage, liver cancer, and even death (2006 peer-reviewed journal, Front Pharmacol 2023). Because of this risk, oral comfrey is banned for sale in the United States. For topical use, most medical sources advise against application during breastfeeding, as the toxins can be absorbed and potentially harm an infant through direct contact or ingestion. A 2023 study explored whether specialized extraction methods could remove the toxic alkaloids while preserving the beneficial rosmarinic acid, suggesting researchers are actively trying to make comfrey safer—but such detoxified products are not yet standard in consumer skincare.

The evidence for real-world effectiveness of topical comfrey remains minimal despite its traditional use (2006 peer-reviewed journal).

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Unknown authors (2006). Comfrey. a peer-reviewed journal.
• Unknown authors (2012). Comfrey. a peer-reviewed journal.
• Sowa I et al. (2018). Proliferative and antioxidant activity of Symphytum officinale root extract. Nat Prod Res.
• Syarifah AN et al. (2023). Detoxification of comfrey (Symphytum officinale L.) extract using natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) and evaluation of its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective properties. Front Pharmacol.
• Seigner J et al. (2019). A Symphytum officinale Root Extract Exerts Anti-inflammatory Properties by Affecting Two Distinct Steps of NF-κB Signaling. Front Pharmacol.

🧴 Products Containing SYMPHYTUM OFFICINALE EXTRACT