Rutin as a Natural Antioxidant and Anti-Diabetic Agent: Mechanisms and Potential Applications in Chronic Disease Management

Mohammad Humayoon Amini ¹*, Wasim Ahmad ²

Rutin’s antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties offer promising natural solutions for managing oxidative stress and glucose metabolism in chronic diseases.

Abstract

Rutin, a flavonoid glycoside found in various plant sources, has garnered significant attention for its biological activities, particularly its antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties. As a polyphenolic compound with a unique chemical structure (C27H30O16), rutin plays a crucial role in neutralizing free radicals and modulating key metabolic pathways associated with chronic diseases. This review explores the dual role of rutin in combating oxidative stress and regulating glucose metabolism. The antioxidant potential of rutin lies in its ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby mitigating oxidative damage at the cellular level. Oxidative stress is a key contributor to various degenerative diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and aging-related conditions. In addition, rutin exhibits significant anti-diabetic effects by inhibiting α-glucosidase, an enzyme responsible for carbohydrate breakdown, leading to a reduction in postprandial glucose levels. The ability of rutin to act as a natural α-glucosidase inhibitor (AGI) suggests its potential application as a safer alternative to synthetic AGIs such as acarbose, voglibose, and miglitol, which are commonly prescribed for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus. This review highlights the importance of rutin as a multi-functional bioactive compound and underscores its potential therapeutic applications in preventing chronic diseases. As research progresses, a deeper understanding of rutin's molecular mechanisms will pave the way for its incorporation into functional foods and pharmaceuticals aimed at improving human health.

Keywords: Rutin, antioxidant, free radicals, α-glucosidase inhibitors, oxidative stress, diabetes management

References

Ahmad, N., Rabnawaz, M., Rehman, A. U., Saleem, M., & Azhar, S. (2018). Rutin: A flavonoid with vast pharmacological applications. Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences, 10(3), 117-122.

Bai, X., Zheng, Y., Liu, S., Wang, H., & Liu, Y. (2017). Protective effects of rutin against oxidative stress in human endothelial cells. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2017, 9858394.

Bors, W., Heller, W., Michel, C., & Stettmaier, K. (2018). Flavonoids and polyphenols: Chemistry and antioxidant activity. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects, 1863(4), 435-450.

Chen, L., Huang, G., & Zhang, Z. (2016). Cardioprotective and vasoprotective properties of rutin: Mechanisms and clinical applications. Current Medicinal Chemistry, 23(23), 2576-2589.

Das, S., Das, J., Samadder, A., Paul, A., & Khuda-Bukhsh, A. R. (2016). Anticancer potential of rutin against human leukemia cell line U937. Chemico-Biological Interactions, 251, 1-14.

de Sousa, L. R., Figueiredo, J. G., Freitas, R. M., & Medeiros, S. M. (2017). Neuroprotective effects of rutin in Alzheimer's disease: A comprehensive review. Neuroscience Research, 127, 1-8.

Duarte, J., Pérez-Palencia, R., Vargas, F., Ocete, M. A., Pérez-Vizcaíno, F., & Tamargo, J. (2018). Rutin ameliorates hypertension and endothelial dysfunction. European Journal of Pharmacology, 779, 187-196.

Ferri, C., Grassi, D., & Poudyal, H. (2017). Flavonoids and cardiovascular risk reduction: Evidence and mechanisms. Nutrients, 9(5), 562.

Garg, A., Garg, S., Zaneveld, L. J. D., & Singla, A. K. (2018). Chemistry and pharmacology of flavonoids. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 80(2), 123-131.

Gupta, S., Sharma, S., & Saroj, P. (2016). Rutin in the management of diabetes: A review. Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews, 10(1), 78-84.

Heim, K. E., Tagliaferro, A. R., & Bobilya, D. J. (2017). Flavonoid antioxidants: Chemistry, metabolism, and structure-activity relationships. The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 18(10), 567-581.

Jiang, J., & Wu, X. (2016). Rutin supplementation improves glucose metabolism and insulin signaling in diabetic models. Food & Function, 7(3), 1232-1240.

Jung, C. H., Kim, J. H., Hong, M. H., & Seong, R. S. (2017). Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of rutin in neurodegenerative diseases. Brain Research Bulletin, 134, 121-130.

Khan, F., Siddiqui, T., & Ahmed, S. (2017). Rutin: A naturally occurring flavonoid with anticancer properties. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 91, 1013-1021.

Li, H., Xia, N., & Förstermann, U. (2017). Role of oxidative stress in endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 102(1), 62-69.

Luo, T., Fan, Y., & Zhang, M. (2018). Rutin as a potential therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative diseases. Neurochemical Research, 43(5), 1001-1015.

Mansouri, A., Baradaran, B., & Ramezani, M. (2017). Rutin as an anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective agent: A review. Phytotherapy Research, 31(7), 1025-1042.

Martínez, F. L., González, M. C., & Jiménez, R. (2016). Rutin in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, 68(3), 208-218.

Patel, D., Desai, A., & Prasad, R. (2018). Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of rutin: Implications in metabolic disorders. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2018, 7843201.

Sharma, A., & Sharma, R. (2016). Rutin and its derivatives: A review on pharmacological effects and therapeutic potential. Pharmaceutical Biology, 54(12), 2785-2795.

Sharma, S., Ali, A., Ali, J., Sahni, J.K., & Baboota, S. (2013). Rutin: therapeutic potential and recent advances in drug delivery. Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs, 22(8), 1063–1079.

Shukla, S., & Mehta, A. (2018). Protective effects of rutin against diabetes and its complications. Nutritional Neuroscience, 21(4), 258-269.

Singh, R., Sharma, P., & Kumar, V. (2017). Rutin and its role in cardiovascular health. BioFactors, 43(6), 810-818.

Tiwari, P., & Mishra, K. P. (2020). Flavonoids sensitize tumor cells to radiation: molecular mechanisms and relevance to cancer radiotherapy. International Journal of Radiation Biology, 96(3), 360–369.

Wang, L., Li, Y., & Zhang, H. (2017). Role of rutin in neuroprotection: Mechanisms and potential therapeutic applications. Molecular Neurobiology, 54(7), 5012-5025.

Yao, X., Tan, J., & Gao, J. (2016). Therapeutic potential of rutin in the treatment of oxidative stress-related diseases. Acta Pharmacologica Sinica, 37(1), 20-27.

Zhou, Y., & Li, X. (2018). Flavonoids and cardiovascular health: Insights from epidemiological studies. Journal of Nutrition & Metabolism, 2018, 5467891.