--- title: Can the natural compound rutin help with depression from PMDD? description: In laboratory studies with rats, rutin reduced depression symptoms, improved memory, and reduced brain cell damage. It is unknown whether rutin would help wom url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/therapeutic-potential-of-rutin-in-premenstrual-depression-evidence-from-in-vivo-2024/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Can the natural compound rutin help with depression from PMDD? Lab study, 2024 # Can the natural compound rutin help with depression from PMDD? In laboratory studies with rats, rutin reduced depression symptoms, improved memory, and reduced brain cell damage. It is unknown whether rutin would help women with PMDD because this was not tested in people. Early or limited evidence Laboratory rats engineered to have PMDD-like depression ## What they did Researchers tested how rutin binds to GABA A receptors in the brain using laboratory techniques. They then gave rutin to rats with depression similar to PMDD and measured mood, memory, social behavior, and brain changes. ## What they found Rutin bound strongly to GABA A receptors in the brain. In rats with PMDD-like depression, rutin reduced depressed mood, memory impairment, and social withdrawal. It also reduced brain cell damage in the hippocampus and lowered GABA and acetylcholine levels. ## What it means for you This is animal research showing rutin may work through a specific brain mechanism. No evidence exists yet for whether rutin helps women with PMDD, what dose would work, or what side effects there might be. This is early-stage research. 1.17 microMolar binding affinity of rutin to GABA A receptors -11.442 computational docking score for rutin-receptor binding ## About the study Original title Therapeutic potential of rutin in premenstrual depression: evidence from in vivo and in vitro studies Authors Wang X, Xia X, Song X et al. Journal Frontiers in pharmacology Year 2024 Study design Lab study What was tested Rutin supplementation at optimized doses Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2024.1525753](https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2024.1525753) Original abstract Introduction: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a cyclical mood disorder that severely affects the daily life of women of reproductive age. Most of the medications being used clinically have limitations such as low efficacy, side effects, and high cost, so there is an urgent need to discover safer and more effective medications. Rutin is a natural flavonol glycoside with various pharmacological properties including antidepressant. The study of the efficacy and mechanism of action of rutin in PMDD-depressed subtype model rats plays an important role in the discovery of new drugs for the treatment of PMDD. Methods: Binding of rutin to gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABA A receptors) was probed using molecular docking, microscale thermophoresis, radioactive receptor ligand binding assay and cell membrane clamp experiment. Behavioral tests in mice were performed to screen the optimal dose of rutin. Behavioral tests were performed to evaluate the effects of rutin on depressed mood, memory impairment, and social impairment in PMDD-depressed subtype model rats. HE staining and Golgi staining were performed to observe the neuronal damage in rat hippocampus. UHPLC-MS/MS targeted metabolomics was performed to detect the changes of neurotransmitter content in rat hippocampus. PCR array to detect the effect of rutin on mRNA expression of GABA A receptor partial subunits in rat hippocampus. Results: The docking score of rutin with the GABA A receptor benzodiazepine site was -11.442 and the gliding score was -11.470. The Kd of rutin with the GABA A receptor (α1β2γ2) was 1.17 ± 0.89 μM. Rutin competed with [H 3 ]-flunitrazepam for the GABA A receptor benzodiazepine site and inhibited the inward flow of chloride ions ( P 0.05). In PMDD-depressed subtype rats, rutin alleviated depressed mood, memory impairment and social impairment, ameliorated hippocampal neuronal damage and reduces gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and acetylcholine (ACh) levels ( P 0.05). Moreover, we found that rutin did not affect the relative mRNA expression of GABA A receptor subunits in rat hippocampus. Discussion: Overall, rutin alleviated depressed mood, memory impairment and social impairment in PMDD-depressed subtype rats, which may be related to binding to GABA A receptor benzodiazepine sites, inhibiting chloride ions inward flow, ameliorating hippocampal neuronal damage and reducing GABA and ACh levels. The results of this study provide an experimental basis and scientific evidence for the development of new drugs for the treatment of PMDD. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Neurosteroids (allopregnanolone)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-neurosteroids/)[Anxiolytics and other psychotropics](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-anxiolytics/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Review, 2025 What causes PMDD and why is it hard to function? Review, 2017 What causes PMDD and what are the best treatments? Review, 2003 How do menstrual cycle hormones affect the brain and cause mood disorders like PMDD? Study, 2026 What treatments work for PMDD? Survey study, 2026 Are PMS and PMDD the same condition or are they different? Cohort study, 2022 What are PMS and PMDD and how should they be diagnosed and treated? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗