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SYMPHYTUM OFFICINALE (COMFREY) INFUSION
Score:
Data: Limited
- Other Concerns
- Functions
- About the Chemical
- Synonyms
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Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (high)
Cancer 
Cancer: Ingredients linked to cancer in government, industry or academic studies or assessments.
Developmental & Reproductive Toxicity
Developmental and reproductive toxicity: Ingredients linked to developmental and reproductive toxicity, a broad class of health effects that range from infertility and reproductive organ cancers to birth defects and developmental delays in children.
Allergies & Immunotoxicity
Allergies and immunotoxicity: Ingredients linked to harm to the immune system, a class of health problems that manifest as allergic reactions or an impaired capacity to fight disease and repair damaged tissue in the body.
Products with this Ingredient
| lip balm with SPF | 4 products |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| The FDA classifies plants containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids, including comfrey, as a serious health hazard to consumers due to liver toxicity. | FDA 2001. FDA Advises Dietary Supplement Manufacturers to Remove Comfrey Products From the Market. FDA Safety Alerts and Advisories. |
| Comfrey caused liver toxicity in a 13 year old boy. | C F. Weston, B. T. Cooper, J. D. Davies & D. F. Levine. 1987. Veno-occlusive disease of the liver secondary to ingestion of comfrey. British medical journal (Clinical research ed.) 295(6591), 183. |
Cancer
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| The FDA classifies plants containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids, including comfrey, as a serious health hazard to consumers due to potential carcinogenicity. | FDA 2001. FDA Advises Dietary Supplement Manufacturers to Remove Comfrey Products From the Market. FDA Safety Alerts and Advisories. |
| Consuming comfrey roots or leaves caused liver cancer in rats. | I Hirono, H. Mori & M. Haga. 1978. Carcinogenic activity of Symphytum officinale. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 61(3), 865-9. |
| Comfrey extract was mutagenic in human cells. | C Behninger, G. Abel, E. Röder, V. Neuberger & W. Göggelmann. 1989. [Studies on the effect of an alkaloid extract of Symphytum officinale on human lymphocyte cultures]. Planta medica 55(6), 518-22. |
Data gaps
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| 69 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical | NLM PubMed |
Data Sources
- FDA 2001. FDA Advises Dietary Supplement Manufacturers to Remove Comfrey Products From the Market. FDA Safety Alerts and Advisories.
- C F. Weston, B. T. Cooper, J. D. Davies & D. F. Levine. 1987. Veno-occlusive disease of the liver secondary to ingestion of comfrey. British medical journal (Clinical research ed.) 295(6591), 183.
- I Hirono, H. Mori & M. Haga. 1978. Carcinogenic activity of Symphytum officinale. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 61(3), 865-9.
- C Behninger, G. Abel, E. Röder, V. Neuberger & W. Göggelmann. 1989. [Studies on the effect of an alkaloid extract of Symphytum officinale on human lymphocyte cultures]. Planta medica 55(6), 518-22.
- NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov.
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EWG provides information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature, to supplement incomplete data available from companies and the government. The ratings below indicate the relative level of concern posed by exposure to the ingredients in this product - not the product itself - compared to other product formulations. The ratings reflect potential health hazards but do not account for the level of exposure or individual susceptibility, factors which determine actual health risks, if any. Learn more | Legal Disclaimer
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