Rutin


Rutin, also called rutoside, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside and sophorin, is the glycoside combining the flavonol quercetin and the disaccharide rutinose. It is a citrus flavonoid found in a wide variety of plants including citrus.

Occurrences

Rutin is one of the phenolic compounds found in the invasive plant species Carpobrotus edulis and contributes to the antibacterial properties of the plant.
Its name comes from the name of Ruta graveolens, a plant that also contains rutin.
Various citrus fruit peels contain 32 to 49 mg/g of flavonoids expressed as rutin equivalents.
Citrus leaves contain rutin at concentrations of 11 and 7 g/kg in orange and lime trees respectively.

Metabolism

The enzyme quercitrinase can be found in Aspergillus flavus. It is an enzyme in the rutin catabolic pathway.

In food

Rutin is a citrus flavonoid glycoside found in many plants including buckwheat, the leaves and petioles of Rheum species, and asparagus. Tartary buckwheat seeds have been found to contain more rutin than common buckwheat seeds. Rutin is one of the primary flavonols found in 'clingstone' peaches. It is also found in green tea infusions.
Approximate rutin content per 100g of selected foods:
332 mg Capers, spice

45 mg Olive , raw

36 mg Buckwheat, whole grain flour

23 mg Asparagus, raw

19 mg Black raspberry, raw

11 mg Red raspberry, raw

9 mg Buckwheat, groats, thermally treated

6 mg Buckwheat, refined flour

6 mg Greencurrant

6 mg Plum, fresh

5 mg Blackcurrant, raw

4 mg Blackberry, raw

3 mg Tomato , whole, raw

2 mg Prune

2 mg Fenugreek, fresh

2 mg Marjoram, dried

2 mg Tea , infusion

1 mg Grape, raisin

1 mg Zucchini, raw

1 mg Apricot, raw

1 mg Tea , infusion

0 mg Apple

0 mg Redcurrant

0 mg Grape

0 mg Tomato, whole, raw

Research

Rutin and other dietary flavonols are under preliminary clinical research for their potential biological effects, such as in reducing post-thrombotic syndrome, venous insufficiency, or endothelial dysfunction, but there was no high-quality evidence for their safe and effective uses as of 2018. As a flavonol among similar flavonoids, rutin has low bioavailability due to poor absorption, high metabolism, and rapid excretion that collectively make its potential for use as a therapeutic agent limited.