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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES Learn more About EWG VERIFIED®

Data: Fair

Symphytum Officinale (Comfrey) Root Extract

  • Products with this ingredient are allowed for use in EWG VERIFIED but must meet use restrictions and warnings based on EWG review of company data.
  • This ingredient's score is higher if there is potential contamination from toxic impurities. The score will be lower if used in products that meet EWG’s contamination restrictions.

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Other Concerns

Enhanced skin absorption, Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (high), and Contamination concerns (high)

SYNONYMS

● SYMPHYTUM OFFICINALE (COMFREY) ROOT EXTRACT
● COMFREY ROOT EXTRACT
● SYMPHYTUM OFFICINALE ROOT EXTRACT

Restricted

Restricted: EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient without adequate substantiation

Symphytum Officinale Root Extract is the extract of the roots of the Comfrey, Symphytum officinale L., Boraginaceae

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • MODERATE
    Cancer
  • LOW
    Allergies & Immunotoxicity
  • LOW
    Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
  • LOW
    Use Restrictions

Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
  • DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

Expand content Collapse content
facial moisturizer/treatment8 products
body oil4 products
moisturizer19 products
bath oil/salts/soak1 products
mask5 products
conditioner8 products
exfoliant/scrub2 products
shampoo9 products
lip balm7 products
body firming lotion4 products
serums & essences2 products
facial cleanser5 products
anti-aging1 products
hair styling aid2 products
hair treatment/serum2 products
muscle/joint soreness2 products
body wash/cleanser8 products
bubble bath1 products
after sun product1 products
toners/astringents1 products
foot moisturizer1 products
makeup remover1 products
hair spray5 products
liquid hand soap1 products
makeup primer1 products
detangler1 products
styling gel/lotion1 products
recreational sunscreen1 products
beard care1 products
around-eye cream1 products

Contamination concerns

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Chemical
PYRROLIZIDINE ALKALOIDS

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Limited evidence of any toxicityUS. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Known human liver toxicantVeno-occlusive disease of the liver secondary to ingestion of comfrey(1987-07-01)
Known human liver toxicantComfrey herb tea-induced hepatic veno-occlusive disease(1989-07-01)
Known human liver toxicantHepatic venocclusive disease associated with the consumption of pyrrolizidine-containing dietary supplements(1985-04-01)
Known human liver toxicantHepatic veno-occlusive disease associated with comfrey ingestion(1900-01-01)
Known human liver toxicantFDA Advises Dietary Supplement Manufacturers to Remove Comfrey Products From the Market(2001-07-06)

Cancer

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CONCERN REFERENCE
One or more animal studies show tumor formation at low dosesCarcinogenic activity of Symphytum officinale(1978-09-01)
One or more animal studies show tumor formation at low dosesMutagenicity of comfrey (Symphytum Officinale) in rat liver(2005-03-01)
Possible human carcinogenFDA Advises Dietary Supplement Manufacturers to Remove Comfrey Products From the Market(2001-07-06)
One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results[Studies on the effect of an alkaloid extract of Symphytum officinale on human lymphocyte cultures](1989-12-01)
One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation resultsMutagenic effects of aqueous extracts of Symphytum officinale L and of its alkaloidal fractions.(1983-06-01)
  • US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • Veno-occlusive disease of the liver secondary to ingestion of comfrey(1987-07-01)
  • Comfrey herb tea-induced hepatic veno-occlusive disease(1989-07-01)
  • Hepatic venocclusive disease associated with the consumption of pyrrolizidine-containing dietary supplements(1985-04-01)
  • Hepatic veno-occlusive disease associated with comfrey ingestion(1900-01-01)
  • FDA Advises Dietary Supplement Manufacturers to Remove Comfrey Products From the Market(2001-07-06)
  • Carcinogenic activity of Symphytum officinale(1978-09-01)
  • Mutagenicity of comfrey (Symphytum Officinale) in rat liver(2005-03-01)
  • [Studies on the effect of an alkaloid extract of Symphytum officinale on human lymphocyte cultures](1989-12-01)
  • Mutagenic effects of aqueous extracts of Symphytum officinale L and of its alkaloidal fractions.(1983-06-01)

Understanding scores

Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.


HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG Verified® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Score legend
WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE APPROACH

A product’s hazard score is not an average of the ingredients’ hazard scores. It is calculated using a weight-of-evidence approach that factors in all of the hazards or health impacts associated with the ingredients.

Data availability

The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.

NONE LIMITED FAIR GOOD ROBUST
Low Availability
Moderate Availability
High Availability
NONE

Ingredients have not been assessed.

LIMITED-FAIR

There is only a modest volume of research.

GOOD-ROBUST

Ingredients have been studied extensively.

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