Glycosides are plant-derived compounds where a sugar unit is linked to a non-sugar aglycone; among these, rutin (quercetin-3-O-rutinoside) is an important flavonoid glycoside studied in pharmacognosy and pharmaceutics. This concise introduction covers rutin’s chemistry (rutinose disaccharide, O-glycosidic linkage), analytical methods (HPLC, UV, TLC), pharmacology (antioxidant action, capillary protection, venotonic effects), pharmacokinetics (gut hydrolysis, absorption), stability and formulation strategies. B.Pharm students will find focused points on identification tests, enzymatic and acid hydrolysis, quality control parameters and formulation challenges. Keywords: Glycosides, Rutin, flavonoid glycoside, rutinose, quercetin-3-rutinoside, HPLC, pharmacology, antioxidant, formulation. These MCQs emphasize mechanism, analytical identification, therapeutic uses and formulation challenges relevant for exams and practicals. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. What is a glycoside?
- A compound in which a sugar is bound to a non-sugar moiety (aglycone)
- A peptide linked to a carbohydrate
- A lipid esterified with fatty acids
- A nucleoside analog
Correct Answer: A compound in which a sugar is bound to a non-sugar moiety (aglycone)
Q2. Rutin is best described as which of the following?
- Flavonoid glycoside quercetin-3-O-rutinoside
- Alkaloid glycoside
- Steroid saponin
- Anthraquinone glycoside
Correct Answer: Flavonoid glycoside quercetin-3-O-rutinoside
Q3. Rutinose, the sugar moiety in rutin, is composed of which monosaccharides?
- Disaccharide of rhamnose and glucose
- Galactose and glucose
- Two glucose units
- Fructose and glucose
Correct Answer: Disaccharide of rhamnose and glucose
Q4. What type of glycosidic linkage is present in rutin?
- O-glycosidic bond
- C-glycosidic bond
- N-glycosidic bond
- S-glycosidic bond
Correct Answer: O-glycosidic bond
Q5. Enzymatic hydrolysis of rutin in the gut primarily involves which sequence?
- Sequential hydrolysis by alpha-L-rhamnosidase followed by beta-D-glucosidase
- Hydrolysis only by lipases
- Cleavage by proteases
- Hydrolysis by amylase
Correct Answer: Sequential hydrolysis by alpha-L-rhamnosidase followed by beta-D-glucosidase
Q6. Reaction with AlCl3 in UV/visible spectroscopy of rutin typically indicates:
- Causes bathochromic shift and fluorescence indicating flavonoid hydroxyls
- Precipitates rutin as a colorless salt
- Hydrolyzes rutin to quercetin instantly
- Oxidizes rutin to quinone
Correct Answer: Causes bathochromic shift and fluorescence indicating flavonoid hydroxyls
Q7. What is the typical solubility profile of rutin?
- Sparingly soluble in water, more soluble in methanol and ethanol
- Highly soluble in water, insoluble in organic solvents
- Only soluble in chloroform
- Insoluble in all common solvents
Correct Answer: Sparingly soluble in water, more soluble in methanol and ethanol
Q8. Which UV wavelength is commonly used for HPLC-UV detection of rutin?
- Around 360 nm for rutin
- 210 nm only
- 600 nm in visible range
- 450 nm exclusively
Correct Answer: Around 360 nm for rutin
Q9. The Shinoda test for flavonoids produces which color with rutin?
- Gives a pink-red color indicating flavonoids
- Gives blue color for anthraquinones
- Gives green color for alkaloids
- No color change for rutin
Correct Answer: Gives a pink-red color indicating flavonoids
Q10. Which pharmacological effect is classically associated with rutin?
- Improves capillary fragility and venous tone
- Directly increases blood glucose levels
- Acts as a beta-lactam antibiotic
- Serves as a cholinesterase inhibitor
Correct Answer: Improves capillary fragility and venous tone
Q11. What is the precise linkage in the rutinose disaccharide?
- Alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-D-glucopyranose
- Beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-D-galactopyranose
- Alpha-D-fructofuranosyl-(2→1)-D-glucopyranose
- Beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-D-glucopyranose
Correct Answer: Alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-D-glucopyranose
Q12. For which clinical condition is rutin most commonly indicated or investigated?
- Management of chronic venous insufficiency and capillary disorders
- First-line treatment for hypertension
- Primary therapy for bacterial infections
- Antiretroviral agent
Correct Answer: Management of chronic venous insufficiency and capillary disorders
Q13. Which statement about rutin stability is correct?
- Susceptible to acid hydrolysis of the glycosidic bond
- Stable in strong acid without hydrolysis
- Decomposes only at cryogenic temperatures
- Unaffected by pH changes
Correct Answer: Susceptible to acid hydrolysis of the glycosidic bond
Q14. What is the aglycone unit of rutin?
- Quercetin
- Kaempferol
- Naringenin
- Catechin
Correct Answer: Quercetin
Q15. Rutin belongs to which subclass of flavonoids?
- Flavonol glycoside
- Isoflavone aglycone
- Flavanone glycoside
- Anthocyanidin
Correct Answer: Flavonol glycoside
Q16. Which TLC visualization reagent is especially useful for detecting rutin and other flavonoids?
- Naturstoff reagent (NP/PEG) produces characteristic fluorescence for flavonoids
- Dragendorff reagent for alkaloids
- Liebermann-Burchard for steroids
- Iodine vapor for proteins
Correct Answer: Naturstoff reagent (NP/PEG) produces characteristic fluorescence for flavonoids
Q17. How is rutin mainly absorbed following oral administration?
- Hydrolyzed by gut microbiota to quercetin which is then absorbed
- Directly absorbed intact without hydrolysis
- Exclusively absorbed in the stomach unchanged
- Eliminated unchanged via lungs
Correct Answer: Hydrolyzed by gut microbiota to quercetin which is then absorbed
Q18. The primary antioxidant mechanism of rutin is:
- Scavenging free radicals through phenolic hydroxyl groups
- Acting as a pro-oxidant in physiological systems
- Chelating only sodium ions
- Inhibiting electron transport chain complexes directly
Correct Answer: Scavenging free radicals through phenolic hydroxyl groups
Q19. What effect does rutin typically have on platelet function?
- Inhibits platelet aggregation
- Strongly induces platelet aggregation
- Has no effect on platelets
- Destroys platelets irreversibly
Correct Answer: Inhibits platelet aggregation
Q20. Which analytical method is standard for quantitative assay of rutin in formulations?
- HPLC with UV detection is the standard quantitative assay for rutin
- Colorimetric cholesterol assay
- Kjeldahl nitrogen estimation
- Gel electrophoresis
Correct Answer: HPLC with UV detection is the standard quantitative assay for rutin
Q21. Which functional groups dominate rutin’s chemical reactivity?
- Multiple phenolic hydroxyl groups on the aglycone
- A primary amine as the major functional group
- A thiol group exclusively
- A quaternary ammonium group
Correct Answer: Multiple phenolic hydroxyl groups on the aglycone
Q22. Rutin is classified under which broad category of phytochemicals?
- Polyphenols
- Alkaloids
- Terpenoids
- Polysaccharides
Correct Answer: Polyphenols
Q23. Which IR absorption is characteristic and useful for rutin identification?
- Broad OH stretch around 3200–3600 cm−1 is characteristic
- Sharp C≡C stretch at 2100 cm−1
- Strong N–H bend at 1500 cm−1
- No IR absorptions due to symmetry
Correct Answer: Broad OH stretch around 3200–3600 cm−1 is characteristic
Q24. Compared to C-glycosides, O-glycosides like rutin are generally:
- O-glycosides are hydrolyzed more easily than C-glycosides
- C-glycosides hydrolyze faster than O-glycosides
- Both have identical hydrolysis rates
- Neither can be hydrolyzed enzymatically
Correct Answer: O-glycosides are hydrolyzed more easily than C-glycosides
Q25. What is a preferred extraction solvent system for isolating rutin from plant material?
- Hydroalcoholic solvent (e.g., 70% ethanol) is commonly used for rutin extraction
- Pure hexane is preferred
- Mineral oil efficiently extracts rutin
- Dry heat is used instead of solvent extraction
Correct Answer: Hydroalcoholic solvent (e.g., 70% ethanol) is commonly used for rutin extraction
Q26. In quality control of a rutin-containing herbal extract, which is the most relevant marker?
- Rutin content is used as a marker compound in quality control of rutin-containing herbs
- Moisture content only is sufficient
- Assay of sodium chloride as marker
- Color alone determines quality
Correct Answer: Rutin content is used as a marker compound in quality control of rutin-containing herbs
Q27. Complexation of rutin with AlCl3 in TLC/UV typically produces what visual response?
- Forms a yellow fluorescence under UV when complexed with flavonoids
- Produces red precipitate only
- Emits infrared light visible to naked eye
- Destroys the flavonoid completely
Correct Answer: Forms a yellow fluorescence under UV when complexed with flavonoids
Q28. Enzymatic hydrolysis of rutin cleaves the sugar from which position on quercetin?
- Hydrolysis occurs at the 3-O position of quercetin
- Hydrolysis occurs at the 7-O position exclusively
- Sugar is attached at the 5-C carbon
- No cleavage possible enzymatically
Correct Answer: Hydrolysis occurs at the 3-O position of quercetin
Q29. Which synonym correctly identifies rutin?
- Rutin is commonly known as quercetin-3-O-rutinoside
- Rutin is the same as ascorbic acid
- Rutin is identical to penicillin
- Rutin is the same as caffeine
Correct Answer: Rutin is commonly known as quercetin-3-O-rutinoside
Q30. Which formulation strategy is appropriate to improve rutin’s solubility and oral bioavailability?
- Complexation with cyclodextrins or forming nanoformulations improves rutin solubility and bioavailability
- Mixing with petrolatum increases oral bioavailability
- Avoiding any excipients gives highest solubility
- Rutin is insoluble so cannot be formulated
Correct Answer: Complexation with cyclodextrins or forming nanoformulations improves rutin solubility and bioavailability
I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.
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