Symphytum officinale Linn. (comfrey) is used in traditional Chinese medicine as anti-oxidant, antidiarrhea and anticancer. In this study, we have investigated the hepatotoxic and tumorigenic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) contained in Symphytum officinale Linn. collected from several towns in Taiwan. Two structural types of PAs were identified from the ground whole plant by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry method: (1) retronecine bases,e.g.lycopsamine,intermedine,myoscorpine,echiumine,symlandine,
Symphytine and echimidine; (2) heliotridine-type, e.g. 7-angeloylheliotridine and heliosupine. Quantitation of the individual PA was determined by linear regression curve of monocrotaline as the standard in ranges from 50~400 μg/mL, correlation coefficients were higher than 0.9994. The methyl myristate was examined as an internal standard. The result shows PA contents ranged between 3.33 and 100 μg/g herb in Symphytum officinale Linn. This study will provide important information to public consumers regarding the health risk of intake Symphytum officinale Linn.containing PAs.
