The pharmacokinetics of rutin in humans is still under investigation. It appears that only about 17% of an ingested dose is absorbed. Absorption appears to occur mainly from the colon following the removal of the carbohydrate moiety by bacterial enzymes to form quercetin. Quercetin may undergo glucuronidation in the colonocytes. It is unclear to what extent there is absorption of quercetin glycosides. Quercetin and glucuronide conjugates of quercetin are transported to the liver via the portal circulation, where they undergo significant first pass metabolism. Metabolites may include isorhamnetin, kaempferol and tamarixetin. Quercetin itself may undergo glucuronidation and sulfation. Quercetin and its metabolites are distributed from the liver to various tissues in the body. Quercetin is strongly bound to albumin in the plasma.
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