Assessment of allantoin concentrations in comfrey root available on the Polish market

Abstract

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale L.) root is a commonly known rich source of allantoin. This compound is widely used in pharmacy and cosmetology, but mainly in a synthetic form. However, the properties of natural allantoin in products of biological origin may be different from those of synthetic allantoin, especially due to the presence of other bioactive substances. Moreover, even in the same raw material, the level of this compound may vary depending on the plant age and environmental conditions. Therefore, we compared the content of allantoin in selected Symphyti Radix raw materials available on the Polish market. The allantoin concentrations determined using the HPLC method were found to be in the range of 15.14-36.46 mg/g DW. Although comfrey root can be an important source of natural allantoin in dermocosmetics and dermatological formulations, fluctuations in the level of this compound depending on the origin of the raw material should be taken into consideration.