Toxicological evaluation of the flavonoid rutin on the reproductive system of wistar rats / Avaliação toxicológica do flavanoide rutina no sistema reprodutor de ratos wistar

Introduction: Rutin, a flavonoid commonly found in nature, has anti-mitotic, vasoprotective, and antihyperlipidemic activity. When hydrolyzed as quercetin, it promotes inhibition of spermatozoa motility, alterations in the prostate, and in the levels of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity of rutin in Wistar rats. Methods: Animals were divided into Control (1 ml of distilled water), Treated I, II and III, respectively receiving 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg/day of rutin for seven consecutive days. When euthanasia was performed after 10, 42 and 60 days into the experiment, a laparotomy was performed and the testicles, prostate, seminal vesicles, epididymis, epididymal spermatozoa to be counted, as well as the liver, spleen and kidneys were removed. Hematological and biochemical tests were performed. Results: Hepatomegaly was observed and in the reproductive system, the weight of the epididymis was reduced, not affecting any other organ examined. Conclusion: Except by the reduction of the weight of the epididymis, which is reversible at 42 days of completion of treatment, no suggestive data of the toxicity of rutin on the reproductive system of adult rats were found.

Do different casein concentrations increase the adverse effect of rutin on the biology of Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)?

The flavonoid rutin is recognized as playing an important role in the protection of plants against lepidopterans. Bioassays with this compound are generally carried out using artificial diets. Proteins of high energy value, such as casein, are important ingredients of insect artificial diets as a source of essential amino acids. However, such proteins can generally increase the allelochemical activity. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of rutin on larvae of the velvetbean caterpillar Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner by incorporating this allelochemical into diets with different concentrations of casein. Three casein concentrations (0, 7 g, or 14 g) combined with none, 0.65 percent, or 1.30 percent of rutin were added to the rearing diet and offered to the larvae from hatching to pupation. Rutin negatively affected larval development, the amount of food consumed, and pupal weight of A. gemmatalis. These negative effects were clearly seen in insects fed on diets with 7 g of casein to which any concentration of rutin was added. The effects of rutin when added to the diets without casein were stronger than in diets containing a suitable amount of casein (14 g). The greater negative effects of rutin in diets containing suboptimal concentrations of casein indicate that casein can increase the effects of rutin only when the diets are nutritionally unsuitable for insect development.

Efeito de rutina sobre os níveis de cloreto, cálcio e fósforo em soro de coelhos / Effects of differents rutin dosages on chloride, calcium and phosphorum levels in serum of rabbits

The objective of this research was to evaluate in rabbits the effect of different dosages rutin in seric levels of chloride, calcium and phosphoro. Rabbits of New Zealand strain aged 55 days of age were used. The animals were divides in males and females, being constituted 4 groups by sex, containing each one 5 animals, that received rutin in the dosages of 20, 40 and 60 mg. The controls groups received only the ration. Samples of blood were collected by retro-orbital vein plexo puncture being then centrifuged at 3500 x g for 15 minutes and serum measurement determined in a multiparametric doage of biochemistry (Alizé). For chloride results it was observed that rutin in the tested doses were significant for males although the variations were not considered toxic. It was also observed that the males presented significant values in dosis of 20 mg of rutin when compared with the females. Being analyzed the medium sanguine values of match and being compared males and female, significant differences were verified with the group that received 20 mg of rutin. Whith relatonship at the levels of calcium, this didn´t present significant alterations when we compared male and females. The females submitted to 20 mg rutin presented altered calcium levels, however those alterations did not present omportant physiologic significance once the other doses didn´t act in significant variations in the levels of calcium. It is concluded that the presented variations were not considered toxic for the parameters chloride, calcium and match in the blood of rabbits.