What is the active ingredient in the Ruda plant?

Active Ingredient in Ruta Plant (Ruda)

The main active ingredient in Ruta graveolens (Ruda plant) is rutin, a flavonoid glycoside that provides most of its aromatic and medicinal properties. 1

Primary Active Components

• Rutin (quercetin-3-O-rutinoside) is the principal bioactive compound in Ruta graveolens, responsible for many of its therapeutic effects 2, 1
• The plant also contains other important bioactive compounds including:
  • Quinoline alkaloids (graveoline and graveolinine) 1
  • Acridone alkaloids (furacridone and gravacridone) 1
  • Coumarins (gravelliferone, isorutarin, rutacultin, rutaretin) 1
  • Furanocoumarins (5-methoxypsoralen/bergapten and 8-methoxypsoralen/xanthotoxine) 1

Pharmacological Properties of Rutin

• Rutin exhibits potent antioxidant properties that help neutralize reactive oxygen species and prevent oxidative damage 2
• It demonstrates significant anti-inflammatory effects by reducing inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and interleukin-1β 3
• Rutin has analgesic (pain-relieving) properties through modulation of MAPK, NF-κB and Nrf-2/HO-1 signaling pathways 3
• It possesses anti-glycation activity, inhibiting the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that contribute to aging and disease 2

Biochemical Mechanisms

• Rutin can trap reactive dicarbonyl species such as methylglyoxal (MGO) and glyoxal (GO) that promote inflammation 2
• It inhibits glucose-induced formation of glycation products in collagen type I 2
• Rutin increases resistance of LDL to high glucose and copper-mediated oxidation 2
• When metabolized by gut microflora, rutin produces compounds with vicinal hydroxyl groups that are powerful inhibitors of carboxymethyllysine (CML) formation 2

Therapeutic Applications

• Rutin has been studied for its potential in treating:
  • Inflammatory conditions through COX-2 and iNOS suppression 3
  • Diabetic complications by reducing AGE formation 2
  • Cancer through regulation of multiple signaling pathways (Ras/Raf, PI3K/Akt, MAPK) 4
  • Neuropathic pain in models of diabetic neuropathy and chronic constriction injury 3

Chemical Composition of Ruta Extract

• Water-soluble glycosides have been isolated from Ruta graveolens, including:
  • 3'-sinapoyl-6-feruloylsucrose 5
  • Methylcnidioside A 5
  • Methylpicraquassioside A 5
  • 3',6-disinapoylsucrose 5
  • Cnidioside A 5

Clinical Considerations

• While rutin shows promising therapeutic potential in preclinical studies, its safety profile needs more thorough investigation 3
• Rutin may enhance the efficacy of other therapeutic agents when used in combination treatments 4
• The plant has been traditionally used for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-androgenic, anti-hyperglycemic, and antihyperlipidemic properties 1

Potential Synergistic Effects

• Rutin may work synergistically with other compounds to provide enhanced therapeutic benefits 4
• In cancer treatment, rutin has shown potential to decrease drug resistance and reduce chemotherapy side effects when used as an adjuvant 4
• The combination of multiple bioactive compounds in the whole plant may provide more comprehensive benefits than isolated rutin alone 1