comfrey

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• bruisewort
• comfrey
• healing-herb
• knitbone
• Common Comfrey
• boneset
• consound
• healingherb
• slippery-root

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized into the order Boraginales and the family Boraginaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is established under the genus Symphytum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Symphytum officinale, exhibits a specific distribution pattern throughout Northern Europe. It can be found growing naturally across the landscape of Denmark. The species is also widely documented within the territories of Finland and Norway. Furthermore, its presence extends to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Together, these locations define its regional range across the northern reaches of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Symphytum officinale is characterized by its preference for specific environmental niches, primarily occurring within forest habitats. It occupies a lowland to mid-elevation ecological niche, with an elevational range spanning from 0 m AMSL to a maximum of 500 m AMSL. This distribution suggests a tendency to thrive in relatively low-lying, sheltered environments where the forest canopy can provide necessary moisture and shade.

Elevational range max:

500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest

Life history

The life history of Symphytum officinale is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist across multiple growing seasons through robust underground structures. In terms of its structural growth strategy, it is classified as a hemicryptophyte, meaning its perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or soil during unfavorable conditions. This life form, consistent across its morphological classifications, enables the plant to re-emerge vigorously each spring from its established rootstock to complete its developmental cycle.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Symphytum officinale is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. The plant is a self-supporting organism, lacking any climbing or vine-like tendencies, and functions as an independent species without parasitic behavior. It is a strictly terrestrial plant, showing no aquatic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variability in size, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 1.5 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.5835 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.5835 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Symphytum officinale is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy among temperate herbaceous perennials that optimizes carbon fixation under moderate environmental conditions. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying on soil-based nutrient uptake through its extensive root system rather than capturing prey. Morphologically, the foliage is substantial, with a mean leaf size of approximately 88.1625 cm², facilitating a large surface area for light interception. This structural investment is further reflected in its specific leaf area (SLA), which maintains a mean value of 250.23 cm²/g, indicating a relatively thin and expansive leaf architecture that balances photosynthetic efficiency with resource allocation.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

88.1625 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

250.23 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Symphytum officinale is characterized by a complex biological cycle involving specific pollination and dispersal strategies. The flowering period typically begins in May and concludes in July. This reproductive phase relies on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically attracting insects, with bees being a primary pollinator. Notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species, necessitating cross-pollination to ensure genetic diversity. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces small fruits that range in length from a minimum of 0.3 cm to a maximum of 0.4 cm, with a mean length of 0.35 cm. The resulting seeds are quite fine, possessing a mean mass of approximately 0.0097245 g, with values ranging between a minimum of 0.01112 g and a maximum of 0.01113 g. Seed dispersal is classified as zoochorous, specifically utilizing an epizoochorous mechanism, where seeds are transported via animals. Furthermore, the plant does not engage in asexual reproduction, relying entirely on its sexual reproductive processes for propagation.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

epizoochorous

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit length max:

0.4 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.35 cm

Fruit length min:

0.3 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.01113 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0097245 g

Seed mass min:

0.01112 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Symphytum officinale has 1 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)
2. Phytochemistry
3. Frontiers in pharmacology
4. Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP

Chemicals

Symphytum officinale has 87 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Lycopsamine, rosmarinic acid, LASIOCARPINE, SYMPHYTINE, allantoin.

Lycopsamine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP
3. Talanta
4. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

rosmarinic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
4. Natural product research

LASIOCARPINE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Public health nutrition
3. Talanta

SYMPHYTINE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Public health nutrition
3. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

allantoin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology

ECHIMIDINE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Talanta

Flavonoids

1. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

GLOBOIDNAN B

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Globoidnan A

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Homospermidine

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Planta medica

Activities

Symphytum officinale has 450 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Hepatotoxic, Mutagenic, ABeta-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor.

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Frontiers in pharmacology
4. International journal of molecular sciences

Hepatotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Indian journal of physiology and pharmacology
3. Talanta

Mutagenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP

ABeta-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acetylcholinergic

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Adenylate-Cyclase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Symphytum officinale has 23 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include inflammation, pain, bone fractures, contusions, sprains.

Inflammation

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. International journal of molecular sciences
3. Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Pain

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Spine
3. Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Bone fractures

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Journal of pharmacopuncture

Contusions

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)

Sprains

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)

Wounds and injuries

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Abscesses

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Analgesic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Arthritis

1. Public health nutrition

Decubitus ulcers

1. Zeitschrift fur Gerontologie und Geriatrie

Preparations

Symphytum officinale has 13 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 12C, 30C, 3C, 6C, Comfrey ointment.

12c

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

30c

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

3c

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

6c

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Comfrey ointment

1. Journal of pharmacopuncture

Mt

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Alkaloid extract

1. Planta medica

Decoction

1. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology

Dry extracts

1. Molecular medicine reports

Ethanolic extract of the roots

1. Phytochemistry