rutinarias

Rutinarias is a non-taxonomic term used to describe plants and plant parts that contain relatively high levels of rutin, a flavonoid glycoside. The term is used informally in botany, nutrition, and phytochemistry to categorize sources rich in rutin rather than to define a formal plant group or lineage.

Rutin, also known as quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, is a flavonol glycoside with antioxidant properties. In plants, rutin may contribute to defense against pests and to UV protection, and it can influence pigment and organ function. In human nutrition, rutin is valued for potential vascular and anti-inflammatory effects and for its antioxidant activity, although the strength of clinical evidence varies.

Rutinarias include a range of cultivated crops and wild plants. Notable sources are buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) and rue (Ruta graveolens). The compound is also present in many fruits and vegetables, particularly in citrus peels, apples, onions, berries, and tea leaves, among others, though content can vary widely depending on species, variety, and processing.

Analytical and practical aspects: the rutin content of plants is typically determined by chromatographic methods such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection, and results are expressed as milligrams of rutin per gram of plant material or extract. While rutinarias provide a convenient descriptor for comparing rutin content across species, they do not reflect phylogenetic relationships and are primarily a nutritional and phytochemical reference.

See also: flavonoids, rutin, quercetin glycosides, plant secondary metabolites.