Rutin

Category: Natural chemicals

Type

Voluntary

Introduction and description

 

Rutin, also called rutoside, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside and sophorin, is the glycoside between the flavonol quercetin and the disaccharide rutinose (α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6))-β-D-glucopyranose).

Chemically and medicinally it is both a most intriguing and a most helpful chemical.  We have used Dr Duke's analysis of its activities, as well as its occurrence in plants to show why.  These are provided as observations so that we can link the chemical to its activities and plants.

Rutin is one of the phenolic compounds found in the plant species Carpobrotus edulis and contributes to the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of the plant.  Rutin (quercetin rutinoside), like quercitrin, is a glycoside of the flavonoid quercetin. As such, the chemical structures of both are very similar, with the difference existing in the hydroxyl functional group. Both quercetin and rutin are used in many countries as medications for blood vessel protection. 

 

They are also used as ingredients of numerous multivitamin preparations and herbal remedies, though why, given the number of foods that contain rutin, anyone should take a pharmaceutical when you could have a food is beyond us.

Its name comes from the name of Ruta graveolens, a plant that also contains rutin.

Related observations

Healing observations

• Dr Duke's list of Chemicals and their Biological Activities in: Morus alba L. (Moraceae) -- Sang-Pai-Pi, White Mulberry 027433
• Dr Duke's list of Chemicals and their Biological Activities in: Prunella vulgaris L. (Lamiaceae) -- Heal-All, Self-Heal 018270
• Dr Duke's list of chemicals having anti-malarial activity 018059
• Dr Duke's list of the Biological Activities of RUTIN 018281
• Pharmacological safety evaluation of a traditional herbal medicine "Zereshk-e-Saghir" and assessment of its hepatoprotective effects on carbon tetrachloride induced hepatic damage in rats 027503