Ethanol-induced memory impairment in rats is a consequence of changes within the central nervous system that are secondary to impaired oxidative stress and cholinergic dysfunction.Treatment with antioxidants and cholinergic agonists are reported to produce beneficial effects in animal models. Rutin is reported to exhibit antioxidant effect and cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitor activity. However, no report is available on the influence of rutin on ethanol-induced memory impairment. Therefore, we tested its influence against cognitive dysfunction in ethanol-induced rats using Morris water maze test and Novel object recognition test. Lipid peroxidation and glutathione levels as parameter of oxidative stress and ChE activity as a marker of cholinergic function were assessed in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Forty five days after ethanol treated rats showed a severe deficit in learning and memory associated with increased lipid peroxidation, decreased glutathione, and elevated ChE activity. In contrast, chronic treatment with rutin (20-80 mg/kg, p.o., once a day for 45 days) and vitamin C (100 mg/kg, p.o.) improved cognitive performance, and lowered oxidative stress and ChE activity in ethanol treated rats. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that treatment with rutin prevents the changes in oxidative stress and ChE activity, and consequently memory impairment in ethanol treated rats.