Phytochemical profiling and bioactivity assessment of underutilized Symphytum species in comparison with Symphytum officinale.

BACKGROUND: Symphytum (comfrey) genus, particularly Symphytum officinale, has been empirically used in folk medicine mainly for its potent anti-inflammatory properties. In an attempt to shed light on the valorization of less known taxa, the current study evaluated the metabolite profile and antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory effects of nine Symphytum species. RESULTS: Phenolic acids, flavonoids and pyrrolizidine alkaloids were the most representative compounds in all comfrey samples. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed that, within the roots, S. grandiflorum was slightly different from S. ibericum, S. caucasicum and the remaining species. Within the aerial parts, S. caucasicum and S. asperum differed from the other samples. All Symphytum species showed good antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities, as evaluated in DPPH (up to 50.17 mg Trolox equivalents (TE) g-1), ABTS (up to 49.92 mg TE g-1), cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC, up to 92.93 mg TE g-1), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP, up to 53.63 mg TE g-1), acetylcholinesterase (AChE, up to 0.52 mg galanthamine equivalents (GALAE) g-1), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE, up to 0.96 mg GALAE g-1), tyrosinase (up to 13.58 mg kojic acid equivalents g-1) and glucosidase (up to 0.28 mmol acarbose equivalents g-1) tests. Pearson correlation analysis revealed potential links between danshensu and ABTS/FRAP/CUPRAC, quercetin-O-hexoside and DPPH/CUPRAC, or rabdosiin and anti-BChE activity. CONCLUSIONS: By assessing for the first time in a comparative manner the phytochemical-biological profile of a considerably high number of Symphytum samples, this study unveils the potential use of less common comfrey species as novel phytopharmaceutical or agricultural raw materials. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

LC-MS/MS Evaluation of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids Profile in Relation to Safety of Comfrey Roots and Leaves from Polish Sources.

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale L.) has a long tradition of use in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. However, due to hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), the EMA restricts the use of comfrey root (CR) to external use only and for short periods of time. Recent studies indicate a low permeability of PAs across the skin, calling into question the safety of topical application of products containing comfrey preparations. The aim of our work was to develop and validate an HPLC method enabling the separation of isomeric PAs from comfrey and, on this basis, to assess the potential toxicity of CR and comfrey leaf (CL) obtained from various Polish sources. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of PAs via HPLC-MS/MS was performed in MRM mode. The results obtained confirmed a lower content of PAs in CL than in CR and showed a wide variation in the composition of PAs in CR, with a much more stable profile of PAs in CL. Factor analysis confirmed that CRs and CLs differ in PA content, which is influenced by the growth conditions and geographical origin. The determined concentrations of PAs prove that in some CRs available on the Polish herbal market, the content of PAs may exceed the daily dose considered safe.

A comprehensive review on clinically proven natural products in the management of nerve pain, with mechanistic insights.

Introduction: People are treating their neuropathic pain with several approved and licensed pharmacological drugs. But due to having existing limitations like low efficacy with some side effects, there needs to be a more effective alternative and complementary therapeutic options. Purpose: s: The study was designed to discuss the mechanistic role of several clinically proven natural products that have been shown to play a significant role against different nerve pain or neuropathic pain. Method: ology: Information for this review article was salvaged using several accessible searching databases like SciVerse Scopus ® (Elsevier Properties S. A, USA), Web of Science® (Thomson Reuters, USA), and PubMed® (U.S. National Library of Medicine, USA) considering some search items like - nerve pain, natural products in pain/nerve pain management, clinically proven natural products in pain management, pain-reducing agents and so on. Result: Our study reported the therapeutic efficacy of natural products and their possible mechanism against neuropathic pain in the human body. Natural products widely used to treat neuropathic pain include comfrey root extract ointment, lavender oil, Rose Oil, aromatic essential oil, ginger oil, vitex agnus-castus, peganum oil, and ajwain 10%. Some common pathways are involved in pain relief through sensory stimulation, enzymatic, anti-inflammatory, and pain-related receptor regulation. Conclusion: The present study suggests that the mentioned natural products can be an appropriate choice for the treatment and management of neuropathic pain.

Detoxification of comfrey (Symphytum officinale L.) extract using natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) and evaluation of its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective properties.

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale L.) contains rosmarinic acid which has different pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the medicinal use of comfrey is limited by the hepatotoxic effect of lycopsamine in comfrey, which overshadows the health benefits of rosmarinic acid. Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) have a wide range of extraction properties, that provides a new approach to the detoxification of comfrey. In the present study, betaine-based and choline chloride-based NADES were screened for selective extraction of rosmarinic acid over lycopsamine. Ultrasonication was used in conjunction with NADES extraction. The chemical profile of the NADES extracts on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hepatotoxic activities were investigated using some chemical reagents. Betaine-urea (1:2 molar ratio, 50% water) obtained the highest content of rosmarinic acid and a low level of lycopsamine (1.934 and 0.018 mg/g, respectively). Betaine-urea was also shown to be more effective to extract rosmarinic acid compared to methanol-UAE under the same conditions, which gave lower rosmarinic acid and higher lycopsamine levels (0.007 and 0.031 mg/g, respectively). Betaine-urea extracts showed higher antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as compared with other NADES extracts, however, had lower hepatotoxic profile. This study recommends the use of betaine-urea to detroxify comfrey to open wider opportunities for the development of comfrey for medicinal use.

Traditional Plants Used in Southern Brazil as a Source to Wound Healing Therapies.

In southern Brazil, the biodiversity is great and the traditional use of medicinal plants for wound healing has been documented in ethnobotanical studies and pharmacological studies have assessed their wound properties and phytochemistry. Therefore, this study evaluated ethnobotanical surveys regarding medicinal plants used in southern Brazil for wound healing and studies about the healing properties of these plants published between 2000 and 2022. To retrieve articles related to the study, Web of Science, PubMed (NLM), Open Access Journals, Scielo, Lilacs, and Google Scholar, with keywords including medicinal plants, wound healing, and South of Brazil, have been used. As a result, 73 medicinal plants belonging to 39 families were found in ethnobotanical surveys as a traditional resource used for wound healing in southern Brazil, 15 of which were cited more than once. Besides, 14 of these 15 plants were also used as healing agents worldwide. The most cited plant with healing actions in southern Brazil was Symphytum officinale L. (comfrey). From 2000 to date, 44 articles scientifically demonstrated the wound-healing effects of the southern Brazilian plants found in ethnobotanical surveys reviewed. The folk medicine of southern Brazil presents a variety of medicinal plants for wound-healing purposes, and scientific data were found for some of those plants. However, the wound-healing properties of many plants have yet to be investigated, and the current literature still needs more phytochemical information about the plants studied. Aside from this, the future focus should be on the standardization of herbal extracts, and further research is required to investigate the pharmacological mechanisms. Clinical research in this area remains in its infancy and warrants more robust further clinical studies.

Anti-inflammatory Properties of the Genus Symphytum L.: A Review.

The Symphytum genus has been mainly used in traditional medicine, containing its anti-inflammatory activity. Symphytum spp.'s active components, such as allantoin, polyphenols, flavonoids, and alkaloids, can act on several intentions in the signaling pathway, constrain pro-inflammatory enzymes, reducing the construction of inflammatory chemokine's and cytokines, and decreasing oxidative stress, which afterward suppresses inflammation procedures. Preclinical and clinical trials have reported the prevailing anti-inflammatory effect of several Symphytum species. This review presents an overview of the anti-inflammatory activities of different products and bioactive constituents in this genus. The papers with the English language were gathered from 2000 to 2021. This review may provide a scientific base for establishing innovative and alternative techniques for isolating a single individual from this genus to attenuate inflammatory disorders. The Symphytum genus is waiting for researchers to develop safe and effective anti-inflammatory agents for additional investigation of other different mechanisms of action.

Nanoencapsulation of n-butanol extract of Symphytum kurdicum and Symphytum asperrimum: Focus on phytochemical analysis, anti-oxidant and antibacterial activity.

Objectives: The current study's objectives were to obtain different extracts and essential oils of Symphytum kurdicum and Symphytum asperrimum and to determine the chemical composition, as well as to evaluate free radical scavenging activity (IC50) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and the effect of liposomal formulation on antimicrobial properties. Materials and Methods: Air-dried powdered aerial parts of S. kurdicum and S. asperrimum were used. The antioxidant and antibacterial properties, essential oil compositions, total phenol, and flavonoid contents of different fractions were determined by DPPH test, disk diffusion assay, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, Folin-ciocalteu reagent, and colorimetric assay method, respectively. The film hydration method was used to fabricate nanoparticles. Results: GC-MS analysis indicated that hexafarnesyl acetone was a major essential oil component. n-butanol and ethyl acetate extracts of S. kurdicum had the highest anti-oxidant activity. Extracts of both plants showed antimicrobial activity. The extracts' maximum inhibition zones against Staphylococcus epidermidis were established. A particle size analyzer detected the formulation size of 140 nm. The optimum formulation of liposomes contains the ratio of 75 mg lecithin, 25 mg cholesterol, and 50 mg herbal extract. Despite the nanoparticles' appropriate particle size, the liposomal extract's antimicrobial effect was lower than that of the free form. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that extracts have significant antibacterial and anti-oxidant activities, attributed to their bioactive constituents.

Comfrey polysaccharides modulate the gut microbiota and its metabolites SCFAs and affect the production performance of laying hens.

Effects of dietary supplementation of comfrey polysaccharides (CPs) on production performance, egg quality, and microbial composition of cecum in laying hens were evaluated. A total of 240 laying hens were allocated into 4 groups with 6 replicates per group. The laying hens were fed diets containing CPs at levels of 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 %, respectively. The results showed that the egg production rate increased by 5.97 %, the egg mass improved by 6.71 %, and the feed conversion rate reduced by 5.43 % in the 1.0 % supplementation group of CPs compared with those in the control group. The digestibility of ash, crude fat, and phosphorus was notably improved by the addition of CPs at 1.0 % (P < 0.05). The relative abundances of Bacteroidetes at the phylum level, Bacteroidaceae, Rikenellaceae, and Prevotellaceae at the family level were increased by CPs (P < 0.05). The relative abundances of Bacteroides, Megamonas, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, [Ruminococcus]_torques_group, Methanobrevibacter, Desulfovibrio, Romboutsia, Alistipes, and Intestinimonas at the genus level were increased by CPs (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation of CPs could enhance the production performance of laying hens, which might be related to the improvement of nutrient digestibility and microbial community modulations in the cecum. Therefore, CPs have potential application value as prebiotics in laying hens.

LC-HRMS/MS phytochemical profiling of Symphytum officinale L. and Anchusa ochroleuca M. Bieb. (Boraginaceae): Unveiling their multi-biological potential via an integrated approach.

This study was aimed at providing a comprehensive phytochemical characterization and multi-biological assessment of Symphytum officinale L., a medicinal plant with a noteworthy traditional use, and Anchusa ochroleuca M. Bieb., a Boraginaceae species from the Romanian flora. The dichloromethane, methanol and 65 % ethanol extracts obtained from the roots and aerial parts of both plants revealed the presence of numerous phenolic acids, oxygenated fatty acids, pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) and flavonoids, as assessed by LC-HRMS/MS analysis. Consistent with their higher total phenolic content, the polar aerial part extracts of S. officinale and root extracts of A. ochroleuca showed the most significant antioxidant activities, as evaluated by DPPH (173.22-216.98 mg TE/g) and ABTS (219.41-311.97 mg TE/g) radical scavenging, CUPRAC (387.18-626.40 mg TE/g), FRAP (199.36-299.86 mg TE/g) and total antioxidant capacity (2.28-2.68 mmol TE/g). Furthermore, both plants exhibited good tyrosinase (19.11-43.89 mg KAE/g) and α-glucosidase (2.45-12.54 mmol ACAE/g) inhibitory effects. The orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) allowed the objective differentiation between the roots and aerial parts of the two investigated species based on their phytochemical and biological profiles. The partial least square (PLS) analysis showed that several individual phenolic acids, such as danshensu, rabdosiin and rosmarinic acid, significantly contributed to the antioxidant potential of both Boraginaceae species, whilst the relative levels of sucrose were positively correlated with the anti-enzymatic properties. Overall, S. officinale and A. ochroleuca could be regarded as rich sources of bioactive phytochemicals that could further lead to developing novel phyto-pharmaceutical commodities.

The Effect of Comfrey on Enoxaparin-Induced Bruise in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Randomised Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVES: Bruising is an important side effect of enoxaparin injection. Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is used to treat different types of wounds, bone fractures, and bruising in traditional medicine in many countries for centuries. This study aimed to determine the effects of the Comfrey ointment on the bruise size and color following enoxaparin injection. METHODS: This double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 80 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The participants were randomly divided into two groups of 40, namely Comfrey and Placebo. Changes in bruise size and color in both groups were assessed daily before and after the intervention. RESULTS: The Comfrey and Placebo groups were homogeneous in demographic and clinical variables. A downward trend was observed in the bruise size in both groups throughout the study. However, the bruise size was smaller in the Comfrey group than the Placebo group on day 2-5 of the intervention. Moreover, there was a significant difference in bruise color between the groups, with a shorter healing course in the Comfrey group. CONCLUSION: The Comfrey ointment accelerated the healing process of enoxaparin injection-induced bruising in patients with ACS. It is recommended as a safe and simple approach for these patients.

Safety of medicinal comfrey cream preparations (Symphytum officinale s.l.): The pyrrolizidine alkaloid lycopsamine is poorly absorbed through human skin.

European Union guidelines indiscriminately discuss a permitted daily exposure (PDE) for pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) of up to 0.007 µg/kg body weight for oral and for topical exposure to herbal medicinal products. In this study, lycopsamine served as a model substance for measuring the extent of skin permeation of PAs following the application of a spiked comfrey cream (Symphytum officinale s.l.) to abdominal skin from human donors in Franz diffusion cells. PAs could be excluded in the non-spiked cream with a limit of detection of 8 µg/kg. Only small amounts of the applied quantity of lycopsamine had migrated through the skin sample into the receptor cell side of the diffusion cell after 24 h. In five of six diffusion cells, there was no detectable lycopsamine within the skin and only 0.6 ± 0.4% of the applied dose in the receptor fluid. The theoretical skin penetration of 4.9% of the applied quantity of lycopsamine largely resulted from the worst case approach of assuming the presence of at least a quantity corresponding to the limit of detection - the true penetration is probably considerably lower. Even with the worst-case calculation, the currently discussed guidelines on PA overestimate the risk related to topical preparations.

Epidermal Regeneration Induced by Comfrey Extract: A Study by Light and Electron Microscopy.

INTRODUCTION: An accelerated healing of superficial wounds was demonstrated in clinical trials with a topical comfrey preparation (Symphytum × uplandicum Nyman). The effect has previously not been examined in skin models. METHODS: An established in vitro model of epidermal cells with the typical strata was used for the observation of effects of applied substances on skin regeneration. Damage corresponding to a typical abrasion was created on day 1 by punching an opening into the epidermal fine structure down to the stratum basale. Samples were either untreated (controls) or exposed to comfrey cream on days 2, 3, 5, and 6. Tissue samples were taken for light and electron microscopy on days 1, 4, and 7. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Application of comfrey cream led to a quicker regeneration of skin cells and to an earlier differentiation of the cells towards a normal fine structure with a visible distinction of epidermal strata, keratin, and corneocyte formation within 4-7 days. The study covered the early days of skin regeneration and confirms the benefits observed in published clinical trials and non-interventional studies in patients with abrasions.

LC-ESI-FT-MSn Metabolite Profiling of Symphytum officinale L. Roots Leads to Isolation of Comfreyn A, an Unusual Arylnaphthalene Lignan.

Preparations of comfrey (Symphytum officinale L.) roots are used topically to reduce inflammation. Comfrey anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties have been proven in clinical studies. However, the bioactive compounds associated with these therapeutic activities are yet to be identified. An LC-ESI-Orbitrap-MSn metabolite profile of a hydroalcoholic extract of comfrey root guided the identification of 20 compounds, including a new arylnaphthalene lignan bearing a rare δ-lactone ring, named comfreyn A. Its structure was determined using extensive 2D NMR and ESI-MS experiments. Additionally, the occurrence of malaxinic acid, caffeic acid ethyl ester, along with the lignans ternifoliuslignan D, 3-carboxy-6,7-dihydroxy-1-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl) -naphthalene, globoidnan A and B, and rabdosiin was reported in S. officinale for the first time. These results helped to redefine the metabolite profile of this medicinal plant. Finally, caffeic acid ethyl ester and comfreyn A were found to significantly inhibit E-selectin expression in IL-1ß stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), with EC values of 64 and 50 µM, respectively.

A systematic review and quality assessment of case reports of adverse events for borage (Borago officinalis), coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) and comfrey (Symphytum officinale).

Symphytum officinale (comfrey), Tussilago farfara (coltsfoot) and Borago officinalis (borage) have long histories of therapeutic use, but their safety has been questioned due to the presence of unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). The evidence base underlying these concerns relies in part on case reports. This systematic review assesses these case reports for their reliability to inform this debate. METHOD: Study selection was restricted to case reports describing possible pyrrolizidine alkaloid related harm and ingestion of comfrey, coltsfoot or borage. An extensive search of academic databases was conducted. Papers meeting the criteria were critically appraised. RESULTS: The search resulted in 11 appropriate case reports, none of which involved borage. Nine reports were assessed for causality and indicated some degree of association between the material ingested and the adverse event. Lack of unequivocal identification of the species ingested compromised attribution and was a significant source of uncertainty. Three levels of identity confusions were found; misidentification or substitution at the level of the whole herb; omission of appropriate botanical identification and attribution of a specific PA to either comfrey or coltsfoot when it is a constituent found in other plants of established toxicity. CONCLUSION: These cases are an unreliable body of evidence on which to draw conclusions about the safety of the oral consumption of Symphytum officinale and Tussilago farfara. Toxicological studies based on oral ingestion of phytochemically-complex preparations of these herbs may be the most accurate methodology for assessing clinical risk.

Comparative Assessment of Phytochemical Profiles of Comfrey (Symphytum officinale L.) Root Extracts Obtained by Different Extraction Techniques.

In this work a comparative study on phytochemical profiles of comfrey root extracts obtained by different extraction approaches has been carried out. Chemical profiles of extracts obtained by supercritical fluid (SFE), pressurized liquid (PLE), and conventional solid/liquid extraction were compared and discussed. Phytochemical composition was assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS) identifying 39 compounds reported for the first time in comfrey root, mainly phenolic acids and fatty acids. The influence of different extraction parameters on phytochemical profiles of S. officinale root was investigated for all applied techniques. PLE and maceration, using alcohol-based solvents (aqueous methanol or ethanol), were shown to be more efficient in the recovery of more polar compounds. Greater numbers of phenolics were best extracted by PLE using 85% EtOH at 63 °C. The use of SFE and 100% acetone for 30 min enabled good recoveries of nonpolar compounds. SFE using 15% EtOH as a cosolvent at 150 bar produced the best recoveries of a significant number of fatty acids. The main compositional differences between extracts obtained by different extraction techniques were assigned to the solvent type. Hence, these results provided comprehensive approaches for treating comfrey root enriched in different phytochemicals, thereby enhancing its bioaccessibility.

A Symphytum officinale Root Extract Exerts Anti-inflammatory Properties by Affecting Two Distinct Steps of NF-κB Signaling.

Symphytum officinale, commonly known as comfrey, constitutes a traditional medicinal plant with a long-standing therapeutic history, and preparations thereof have been widely used for the treatment of painful muscle and joint complaints, wound and bone healing, and inflammation. Today, its topical use is based on its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, which have been substantiated by modern clinical trials. However, the molecular basis of its action remained elusive. Here, we show that a hydroalcoholic extract of comfrey root impairs the development of a pro-inflammatory scenario in primary human endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner. The extract, and especially its mucilage-depleted fraction, impair the interleukin-1 (IL-1) induced expression of pro-inflammatory markers including E-selectin, VCAM1, ICAM1, and COX-2. Both preparations inhibit the activation of NF-κB, a transcription factor of central importance for the expression of these and other pro-inflammatory genes. Furthermore, our biochemical studies provide evidence that comfrey inhibits NF-κB signaling at two stages: it dampens not only the activation of IKK1/2 and the subsequent IκBα degradation, but also interferes with NF-κB p65 nucleo-cytoplasmatic shuttling and transactivation. These results provide a first mechanistic insight into the mode of action of a century-old popular herbal medicine.

Effect of comfrey cream combined with NB-UVB on skin barrier function and immune function in the patients with psoriasis vulgaris / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective@#To investigate the effects of comfrey cream combined with narrow-band UVB (NB-UVB) on skin barrier function and immune function in the patients with psoriasis vulgaris.@*Methods@#A total of 100 patients with psoriasis vulgaris admitted from March 2016 to June 2017 were enrolled in the study. They were randomly divided into observation group (Purple Cream + NB-UVB) and control group (NB- UVB), 50 cases in each group. Psoriasis lesion area and severity index (PASI) and degree of pruritus were evaluated before treatment, after 2 weeks and 4 weeks of treatment. The skin barrier function and immune related indicators were compared between the two groups before and after the treatment.@*Results@#After treatment, the PASI score and pruritus score of the observation group and the control group showed a decreasing trend, and the observation group decreased more significantly. The interaction between the two groups at different time points, and between groups and at different time points were statistically significant (t values were 3.462, 2.833, P<0.05). After treatment, the water content of the stratum corneum (54.34% ± 5.04% vs. 49.03% ± 5.26%, t=5.154) and the sebum content (143.03 ± 11.60 μg/cm2 vs. 130.79 ± 14.54 μg/cm2, t=4.653) in the observation group were higher than those in the control group, and the transepidermal water loss (TEWL) [15.87 ± 4.22 g/(h•m2) vs. 19.87 ± 3.06 g/(h•m2), t=5.426] in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The CD4+ (42.06% ± 4.68% vs. 33.01% ± 3.07%, t=11.433), CD4+/CD8+ (20.89 ± 3.44 vs. 26.03 ± 3.44, t=8.209) in observation group and control group were increased after treament, while CD8+(1.89% ± 0.29% vs. 1.43% ± 0.27%, t=7.471) was decreased, the observation group was superior to the control group (P<0.05).@*Conclusions@#Treatment of vulgaris vulgaris with comfrey cream combined with NB-UVB can improve symptoms and improve skin barrier function and immune function.

Effect of comfrey cream combined with NB-UVB on skin barrier function and immune function in the patients with psoriasis vulgaris / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective To investigate the effects of comfrey cream combined with narrow-band UVB (NB-UVB) on skin barrier function and immune function in the patients with psoriasis vulgaris. Methods A total of 100 patients with psoriasis vulgaris admitted from March 2016 to June 2017 were enrolled in the study. They were randomly divided into observation group (Purple Cream + NB-UVB) and control group (NB- UVB), 50 cases in each group. Psoriasis lesion area and severity index (PASI) and degree of pruritus were evaluated before treatment, after 2 weeks and 4 weeks of treatment. The skin barrier function and immune related indicators were compared between the two groups before and after the treatment. Results After treatment, the PASI score and pruritus score of the observation group and the control group showed a decreasing trend, and the observation group decreased more significantly. The interaction between the two groups at different time points, and between groups and at different time points were statistically significant (t values were 3.462, 2.833, P<0.05). After treatment, the water content of the stratum corneum (54.34% ±5.04% vs. 49.03% ±5.26%, t=5.154) and the sebum content (143.03 ±11.60 μg/cm2 vs. 130.79 ±14.54 μg/cm2, t=4.653) in the observation group were higher than those in the control group, and the transepidermal water loss (TEWL) [15.87 ± 4.22 g/(h?m2) vs. 19.87 ± 3.06 g/(h?m2), t=5.426] in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The CD4+(42.06% ±4.68% vs. 33.01% ±3.07%, t=11.433), CD4+/CD8+(20.89 ±3.44 vs. 26.03 ± 3.44, t=8.209) in observation group and control group were increased after treament, while CD8+(1.89% ± 0.29% vs. 1.43% ± 0.27%, t=7.471) was decreased, the observation group was superior to the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions Treatment of vulgaris vulgaris with comfrey cream combined with NB-UVB can improve symptoms and improve skin barrier function and immune function.

Physicochemical properties and activities of comfrey polysaccharides extracted by different techniques.

The effects of extraction techniques on the physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity and antihyperglycemic activity of comfrey polysaccharides (CPs) were evaluated. Four techniques were used to extract CPs: hot water extraction (HW), ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UA), enzyme-assisted extraction (EA) and enzyme-ultrasonic-assisted extraction (EUA). Experimental results indicated that CPs extracted by the UA (UA-CPs) and EUA methods (EUA-CPs) had higher extraction yields. The four CPs showed the same monosaccharide composition but a significant difference in monosaccharide content. CPs showed antioxidant activities and antihyperglycemic activities in a concentration-dependent manner. UA-CPs exhibited better antioxidant capacity, which might have been related to its smaller molecular weight and higher uronic acid content. In addition, UA-CPs showed notable α-glucosidase inhibition activity. These results suggested that ultrasonic-assisted extraction technology was more beneficial to enhance the extraction yields of the polysaccharides, and obtain higher bioactive polysaccharides from comfrey.

Proliferative and antioxidant activity of Symphytum officinale root extract.

The root of Symphytum officinale L. is commonly used in folk medicine to promote the wound healing, reduce the inflammation and in the treatment of broken bones. The objective of our investigation was to analyse the extract from S. officinale in term of its antioxidant activity and the effect on cell viability and proliferation of human skin fibroblast (HSF). Moreover, the quantification of main phenolics and allantoin was conducted using HPLC-DAD method. Five compounds were found: rosmarinic, p-hydroxybenzoic, caffeic, chlorogenic and p-coumaric acid. DPPH, FRAP and TPC assay showed the high antioxidant activity of the extract. MTT test proved the stimulatory effect on cell metabolism and viability of HSF cells. Moreover, no changes in cytoskeleton structure and cells shape were observed. The obtained results indicate that non-toxic extract from S. officinale root has strong antioxidant potential and a beneficial effect on human skin fibroblasts.