Ingredient
Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract
Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract is flagged for pregnancy, breastfeeding, trying to conceive, postpartum, PCOS and general use. The concern behind the strongest flag is known teratogen and absorbed into the body.
- Comfrey Leaf Extract
- Common Comfrey Extract
Verdict by profile
Truva checks every ingredient against six profiles. Jump to any of them for the full assessment.
- Strongest verdict
- Not Recommended
- Its verdict for pregnancy, the profile this one is worst in
- Profiles flagged
- 6 of 6
- Counting avoid, high risk and medium risk
- Irritancy
- 2 of 5
- Higher means more likely to sting or redden
Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract and pregnancy
Not Recommended
- Known teratogen
- Absorbed into the body
- Fetal development
Symphytum Officinale (comfrey) leaf extract contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), toxic compounds that can be absorbed through skin and cause serious liver damage. Comfrey has been used traditionally as a topical wound healer due to its allantoin content, but the presence of PAs makes it problematic. According to multiple health authorities including the FDA and European Medicines Agency, pyrrolizidine alkaloids are hepatotoxic and potentially carcinogenic. During pregnancy, these compounds pose particular risks as the developing fetal liver is vulnerable to toxins. PAs can cross the placenta and have been associated with birth defects in animal studies. The FDA has issued specific warnings against comfrey use, and ACOG guidelines recommend avoiding herbs with known toxicity during pregnancy. While some manufacturers claim to produce PA-free comfrey extracts, testing has shown that products cannot be guaranteed free of these alkaloids. The EU strictly limits PA content in cosmetics to 1 μg/g and prohibits comfrey in products for pregnant women in some member states. Most obstetricians and dermatologists advise complete avoidance of comfrey products during pregnancy due to the severity of potential hepatotoxicity and fetal risks.
Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract and breastfeeding
Not Recommended
- Passes into breast milk
- Infant exposure
Comfrey leaf extract contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), hepatotoxic compounds that can be absorbed through skin. When applied topically, especially on large areas or broken skin, PAs can enter the bloodstream and potentially transfer to breast milk. According to the FDA and AAD, pyrrolizidine alkaloids are dangerous toxins that can cause liver damage in infants, who have less developed detoxification systems than adults. The lipophilic nature of some PAs means they could concentrate in fat-rich breast milk. Given the severe hepatotoxicity of these compounds and the vulnerability of infant livers, health authorities recommend avoiding comfrey entirely during breastfeeding. The European Medicines Agency has concluded that the risk of PA exposure through breast milk, even from topical maternal use, outweighs any benefits. Dermatologists and lactation consultants uniformly advise breastfeeding mothers to avoid comfrey-containing products. Safe alternatives like purified allantoin (the beneficial component of comfrey) or other healing botanicals should be used instead.
Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract and postpartum
Caution Advised
- Absorbed into the body
For postpartum women not breastfeeding, comfrey's healing properties may be tempting for addressing skin concerns, but the pyrrolizidine alkaloid content remains a significant health risk. While infant exposure through milk is not a concern, maternal liver toxicity is still possible with repeated topical use. Many dermatologists recommend choosing safer alternatives that provide similar wound-healing and anti-inflammatory benefits without the hepatotoxicity risk. If comfrey products are used, they should be limited to small areas, intact skin only, for short durations, and ideally certified as PA-reduced (though complete elimination cannot be guaranteed).
Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract and trying to conceive
Not Recommended
- Fertility effects
- Builds up in tissue
Women trying to conceive should avoid comfrey products due to the pyrrolizidine alkaloid content. While specific fertility studies are limited, PAs are hepatotoxic and can accumulate in the body with repeated exposure. Since liver function is critical for hormone metabolism and pregnancy health, protecting hepatic function before conception is important. Because pregnancy may occur at any time when trying to conceive, and because PAs can cross the placenta and affect fetal development from the earliest stages, most healthcare providers recommend discontinuing comfrey products when beginning to try for pregnancy. The preconception period is an ideal time to eliminate exposure to known toxins and switch to safer alternatives.
Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract and PCOS
Caution Advised
Comfrey leaf extract has anti-inflammatory and skin-healing properties that could theoretically benefit PCOS-related skin issues. However, the pyrrolizidine alkaloid content presents health risks that must be weighed against benefits. For women with PCOS, there are no specific hormonal interactions with comfrey, as PAs primarily affect the liver rather than endocrine pathways. However, women with PCOS who have concurrent liver conditions (such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which is more common in PCOS) should be particularly cautious about hepatotoxic ingredients. While short-term, limited topical use on small areas may pose minimal risk, dermatologists generally recommend safer alternatives for managing PCOS-related skin concerns. Ingredients like niacinamide, azelaic acid, or other anti-inflammatory botanicals without toxicity concerns are preferred.
Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract and general use
Caution Advised
- Carcinogen concern
- Absorbed into the body
Comfrey leaf extract has traditional use as a wound healer and anti-inflammatory agent, primarily due to its allantoin content. However, comfrey contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which are toxic to the liver and potentially carcinogenic. According to the FDA and ECHA, pyrrolizidine alkaloids can be absorbed through skin, particularly when applied to large areas, broken skin, or used repeatedly. These compounds have caused liver damage, veno-occlusive disease, and death in cases of chronic exposure. While topical absorption is lower than oral exposure, health authorities remain concerned about cumulative toxicity. The EU Cosmetics Regulation restricts comfrey to leave-on products with maximum PA content of 1 μg/g and prohibits use in products for children under 3. The FDA has advised against comfrey products and some health organizations recommend avoiding them entirely. For general public use, dermatologists often suggest choosing PA-free alternatives like purified allantoin or other healing botanicals without toxicity risks.
Everything else flagged for the same profiles
Related ingredients
Ingredients suggested in place of Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract, each one with its own page here.
Ingredients that raise the same concerns.
Where this came from
Truva summarises published guidance from bodies including ACOG, the FDA, the EU SCCS and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review. It has no access to your medical history and it is not a substitute for your doctor, dermatologist or midwife. These assessments have not been reviewed by a clinician, and nothing here is a diagnosis or a prescription. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or being treated for PCOS, take the ingredient list to the person looking after you.
Assessment last pulled from the ingredient database on .
One ingredient is the easy case.
A label has thirty of them. Truva reads the whole list at once and answers for the profile you set: pregnancy, breastfeeding, postpartum, trying to conceive, PCOS, or general use.
Download on theApp Store