# Phytochemical Analysis of _Symphytum officinal_ Root Culture Extract
## 1 Introduction  
The _Symphytum_ genus (Boraginaceae) includes about 40 perennial species growing in Eurasia [1]. Researchers pay close attention to several species, including _Symphytum officinal_ [PERSON], _Symphytum asperum_ [PERSON], _Symphytum caukascium_, _Symphytum tuberosum_ [PERSON], and the hybrid species _Symphytum uplandicum_ [PERSON]. The literature also provides a description of the following species: _Symphytum cordatum_ [PERSON], _Symphytum grandiflora_ [PERSON], _Symphytum__ibericum_ [PERSON], _Symphytum orientale_ [PERSON], _Symphytum popovii_ [PERSON], and _Symphytum tauricum_ [PERSON], without a clear indication of the component composition of secondary metabolites [2].  
Despite the fact that numerous clinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of _S. officiale_ as an anti-inflammatory agent in muscle and joint inflammatory diseases, the key bioactive components, as well as their molecular mechanisms of action, remain poorly understood [3]. It is reported that comfrey has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant,and antinociceptive properties, and it can be used for hepatoprotection and tissue regeneration [4; 5; 6]. Numerous chemical components of comfrey determine its pharmacological and therapeutic potential, including in neurology [7; 8].  
_Symphytum officinal_ is reported to contain polysaccharides, allantoin, phenolic acids (chlorogenic, caffe, and rosmary), phytosterols and triterpene saponins, glycosides, and pyrocatech-type tannins, as well as pyrrolizidine alkaloids (intermedin, acetylimetemdin, lycopsamine, acetyllikopsamine, and simfitin, and their corresponding N-oxides) [9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15]. At the same time, the details of the morphological localization of these components (shoots and roots) are not provided. The root and herb (_Radix cum Herba Symplyti_) in the form of a cold extract infusion, is used both internally and externally. In folk medicine, it is used for joint deformities, myalgia, and bone fractures [1]. In Europe, fresh roots and fresh flowering plants, collected from March to June and from September to October, are used. The internal use of _Symphytum officinal_ is currently being disputed. Long-term use is not recommended due to the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA). PA are esters formed by noncynic acids and amino alcohols-necines. The necines are oxygenated derivatives of L-methylpyrrolizidine. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are found in common foods. It is the potential long-term health risks associated with low-dose chronic exposure to this class of compounds from foods that is the source of recent concern. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) indicates that milk, eggs, honey, pollen products, grains, and meat, as well as herbal products, including comfrey, used in salads and brewed like tea, are sources of PA [15].  
All these features of the _Symphytum_ genus representatives create the prerequisites for a comprehensive, in-depth study of their component composition using modern physico-chemical methods.  
This work aimed to study the main components of the _Symphytum officinal_ root culture by a complex of chromatographic methods.