Rutin as an alternative to Paracetamol: Evidence from behavioral, cellular, and inflammatory acute pain responses

Abstract

Background: Pain management following acute injury or postoperative procedures is necessary for appropriate recovery and quality of life. Opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) have been used for this purpose for an extended period; however, opioids cause addiction and withdrawal symptoms that require additional treatment, whereas NSAIDS have several systemic toxicities. The plant-derived flavonoid rutin has shown promising effects in reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. In this study, our primary objectives are to investigate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of rutin as an alternative analgesic with limited adverse effects. Methods: Orally administered rutin and its antinociceptive effects were evaluated in a formalin-induced acute pain model in Swiss albino mice. Additionally, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of rutin were analyzed as preventive and therapeutic strategies in a formalin-induced acute pain model. Results: Decreased tail-flick and paw-withdrawal latencies were reversed by preventive and therapeutic Rutin treatment. Rutin treatment depleted reduced glutathione (GSH), reduced catalase and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) activities, and elevated lipid peroxidation at the local level. The levels of the local neuroinflammatory mediator substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R), and p65 significantly decreased after Rutin treatment. Conclusion: The present evidence shows that rutin is not merely an analgesic but also a comprehensive neuroprotective and anti-neuroinflammatory agent. It corrects the underlying biochemical and cellular pathology that remained unexplored, reiterating the therapeutic efficacy and novelty that fundamentally eclipse the symptomatic relief offered by Paracetamol.