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.
Other Concerns
Enhanced skin absorption, Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (high), and Contamination concerns (high)SYNONYMS
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.
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MODERATECancer
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LOWAllergies & Immunotoxicity
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LOWDevelopmental and Reproductive Toxicity
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LOWUse Restrictions
Ingredient concerns
- CONCERNS
- DATA SOURCES
Products with this Ingredient
facial moisturizer/treatment | 8 products |
body oil | 4 products |
moisturizer | 19 products |
bath oil/salts/soak | 1 products |
mask | 5 products |
conditioner | 8 products |
exfoliant/scrub | 2 products |
shampoo | 9 products |
lip balm | 7 products |
body firming lotion | 4 products |
serums & essences | 2 products |
facial cleanser | 5 products |
anti-aging | 1 products |
hair styling aid | 2 products |
hair treatment/serum | 2 products |
muscle/joint soreness | 2 products |
body wash/cleanser | 8 products |
bubble bath | 1 products |
after sun product | 1 products |
toners/astringents | 1 products |
daily use with SPF | 1 products |
foot moisturizer | 1 products |
makeup remover | 1 products |
hair spray | 5 products |
liquid hand soap | 1 products |
makeup primer | 1 products |
detangler | 1 products |
styling gel/lotion | 1 products |
recreational sunscreen | 1 products |
beard care | 1 products |
around-eye cream | 1 products |
Contamination concerns
Chemical |
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PYRROLIZIDINE ALKALOIDS |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
CONCERN | REFERENCE |
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Limited evidence of any toxicity | US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) |
Known human liver toxicant | Veno-occlusive disease of the liver secondary to ingestion of comfrey(1987-07-01) |
Known human liver toxicant | Comfrey herb tea-induced hepatic veno-occlusive disease(1989-07-01) |
Known human liver toxicant | Hepatic venocclusive disease associated with the consumption of pyrrolizidine-containing dietary supplements(1985-04-01) |
Known human liver toxicant | Hepatic veno-occlusive disease associated with comfrey ingestion(1900-01-01) |
Known human liver toxicant | FDA Advises Dietary Supplement Manufacturers to Remove Comfrey Products From the Market(2001-07-06) |
Cancer
CONCERN | REFERENCE |
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One or more animal studies show tumor formation at low doses | Carcinogenic activity of Symphytum officinale(1978-09-01) |
One or more animal studies show tumor formation at low doses | Mutagenicity of comfrey (Symphytum Officinale) in rat liver(2005-03-01) |
Possible human carcinogen | FDA 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 results | Mutagenic 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.
Data availability
The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.