In this paper the following contents of therapeutically active components: allantoin, tannin and mucilage in Russian comfrey have been reported.
Allantoin exists in the urine of mammals, and also in the bud of seedling. Especially, it has effects on the accelerating function of plant growth and promotes the recovering from visible injuries of plant. The content of allantoin is most in the spring root, next in the summer root and the flower, and least in the leaf.
Tannin is distributed in all parts of plant; root, trunk, leaf, bark and nut extensively. The amount of the tannin content in roots is much more in summer than in spring. On the contrary, in leaves it is much more in spring than in summer. And it is more in stems than in flower. Considered from the Rf value and color of spots, catechols corresponding to the spots on paper chromatogram are dl-gallocatechol, lepicatechol and gallic acid.
Mucilage in Russian comfrey is detected to be almost galactose and a small amount of glucose due to the color and Rf value of spots on thin-layer chromatogram.