O-(BETA-HYDROXYETHYL)-RUTOSIDES - CHEMICAL ASPECTS

Objective: To review the chemistry and composition of the venoactive d rug Venoruton (O-(beta-hydroxyethyl)-rutosides). Data sources: Biologi cal and biomedical literature from 1930 to date. Study selection: Lite rature relevant to the isolation, chemistry and pharmacology of the na tural and semisynthetic rutosides has been selected. Data extraction: Not applicable. Data synthesis: The review shows that the naturally oc curring compound rutin is one of a range of bioactive flavonoid compou nds. Hydroxyethylation of the hydroxyl groups of rutin gives the venop rotective drug Venoruton, O-(beta-hydroxyethyl)-rutosides. Venoruton i s now known to be composed of a standard mixture of mono-, di-, tri- a nd tetra-hydroxyethylated rutosides and their aglycones, of which five have been chosen as 'representative constituents'. High performance l iquid chromatography (HPLC) can be used to assay the constituents of t his standard mixture. Conclusions: This review describes qualitatively and quantitatively the 'representative constiuents' of O-(beta-hydrox yethyl)-rutosides. The methods of separation and quantification of the se constituents using HPLC is described.