Therapeutic potential of rutamarin: preclinical evidence of its biological properties through in silico, in vitro, and in vivo studies

Abstract Background In traditional medicine, natural compounds, such as coumarins, have been recognised as effective therapeutic agents for a variety of ailments. One of the natural furanocoumarins is rutamarin, which can be abundantly found in the Rutaceae family. It has been demonstrated to possess diverse biological properties in preclinical models, underscoring its potential for therapeutic applications in various health problems. Main body This review provides an extensive description and critical evaluation of the biological activities of rutamarin, particularly anticancer, antidepressant, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial effects. To a lesser extent, the antinociceptive, antivenom, and antiviral effects of rutamarin are also included. Scientific preclinical evidence based on in silico, in vitro, and in vivo models is discussed, highlighting its potential as a pharmaceutical agent for therapeutic purposes. As a natural product, the distribution and chemical extraction of rutamarin in plants, as well as its isolation, are also discussed. Moreover, efforts to amplify the yield of rutamarin in in vitro plant cultures and to synthesise rutamarin are briefly described. Since most studies previously utilised in silico analysis to elucidate rutamarin’s mechanism of action, limitations and future directions for clinical trials are also suggested. Conclusion Advancement to clinical trials is a crucial step towards utilising rutamarin as a therapeutic agent for various diseases and health complications, including cancers, diabetes, and microbial infections. However, current findings that largely rely on in silico and in vitro models need further preclinical validation of the biological properties, especially in vivo models, which are essential prior to advancement to clinical setting.