The Value of Rutin and Quercetin in Scurvy

Abstract

Data are presented on the effects of rutin and quercetin in guinea pigs maintained on a scorbutogenic diet with and without the addition of subminimum amounts of ascorbic acid. Rutin and quercetin administered orally in doses of 100 and 50 mg per animal per day, respectively, did not prolong the life of the guinea pigs beyond that of the negative control animals on the scorbutogenic diet alone. The scorbutic symptoms and the post mortem findings did not differ from those of the negative controls. In guinea pigs receiving subminimum amounts of ascorbic acid alone, ascorbic acid and rutin, and ascorbic acid in combination with quercetin, the post mortem findings were essentially the same except for the fact that the last two groups showed fewer fresh hemorrhages than the animals receiving ascorbic acid alone. Microscopic study of stained longitudinal sections of the femurs or tibias of these three groups of animals showed essentially the same picture for all groups. This picture differed from that of positive control animals on a non-scorbutogenic diet in that the epiphyseal line showed slightly more calcification and the epiphysis and diaphysis greater porosity, which might account for the fractures in the metaphyseal region seen in X-ray pictures. The combined supplements of ascorbic acid and rutin apparently prolonged the life of scorbutic guinea pigs.