Rutinanalys

Rutinanalys, or rutin analysis, is the set of analytical methods used to determine the content of rutin, a flavonol glycoside, in plant materials, foods, and pharmaceutical preparations. Rutin, or quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, is a widely occurring flavonoid that contributes to antioxidant activity and is used as a marker of quality in certain botanicals, notably buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum). Analytical goals include quantification for labeling, quality control, and stability studies, as well as pharmacokinetic research.

Common methods: HPLC is the dominant technique, typically reversed-phase C18, with UV or diode-array detection around 350–360 nm. UHPLC methods provide higher throughput. Extraction often uses methanol, acetonitrile, or aqueous alcohol, with sample clean-up if needed. Calibration is performed with rutin standards to obtain linear response and determine recoveries. In addition to LC methods, colorimetric and TLC/HPTLC approaches exist for rapid screening, though they may be less specific. LC-MS or tandem MS can confirm identity and provide structural information.

Sample types: dietary supplements containing rutin, buckwheat and other plant materials, fruit peels and teas. Reports usually express results as milligrams of rutin per gram of sample or per liter of extract.

Quality and regulatory: method validation covers accuracy, precision, linearity, LOD and LOQ, and robustness. The field continues to adopt validated LC-MS methods for confirmation and to support regulatory labeling.