PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF SOME SPECIES OF THE BORAGINACEAE

Summary

Allantoin was detected by paper and thin–layer chromatography in the leaves of Symphytum officinale L., S. tuberosum L. and S. × uplandicum Nym. also an alkaloidal substance, sugars and amino–acids in these and the leaves and flowers of Borago officinalis L. Choline was isolated chromatographically from all four species.

An estimation of approximate allantoin content in commercial comfrey has been made using ultra–violet spectroscopy. A seasonal variation in allantoin content was shown in methanolic extracts from leaves of the three Symphytum species. Approximately 0.45 % of allantoin was found in S. officinale and S. × uplandicum; S. tuberosum contained about 0.1 %.