Methods: Thirty male albino Wistar rats were separated into three equal groups as healthy group, trauma group, and trauma+rutin group. After anesthesia provided by intraperitoneal administration of 60 mg/kg ketamine and xylazine by inhalation at appropriate intervals, 200 g weight was dropped from 1 m height to the anterior chest wall of the animals in the trauma group (n=10) and trauma+rutin group (n=10) and pulmonary contusion was created. Thirty min after the trauma, 50 mg/kg of rutin was administered into the stomach of trauma+rutin group animals orally with gavage. The rats received rutin once daily for two days and were sacrificed 48 h later. Their lung tissues were removed and examined biochemically and histopathologically.

Results: Nuclear factor-kappa B, cyclooxygenase-2, and malondialdehyde levels increased in the trauma group compared to the healthy group, and rutin administration prevented this increase. Total glutathione levels decreased in the trauma group, and rutin administration also prevented this decrease. The histopathological findings were compatible with the biochemical findings.

Conclusion: Our study results suggest that rutin has a protective effect on contused lung tissue in rats.