The present study seeks to investigate the effect of rutin, a flavonoid compound in rat models of acute inflammation induced by carrageenan (CAR). Twenty-four female Wistar rats weighing 222-247 g received saline or 2% λ-carrageenan in the pleural cavity and treatment with rutin (80 mg kg-1) or saline by oral gavage for 21 days prior to the intrapleural induction of CAR. After 4 h of induction, the rats were euthanized, the plasma was prepared from the blood for the analysis of haematological parameters and the pleural exudate was obtained for the analysis of the total cell count, cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, apoptosis and cell cycle. The result revealed that rutin exhibited anti-inflammatory effects by modulating the ROS level, apoptosis and cell cycle. This study indicates that rutin may exert a protective effect against ROS-mediated oxidative damage associated with an anti-inflammatory activity in rat models of acute inflammation.