Resveratrol affects DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation in human lymphocytes in vitro

•Resveratrol treatment does not induce DNA and chromosome damage in human lymphocytes in vitro.•40μM resveratrol increases ionizing radiation-induced dicentrics in human lymphocytes.•Resveratrol radiosensitizes human lymphocytes modifying the acetylation status of histones. Resveratrol (3,4′,5-trihydroxystilbene; RSV) acts on cancer cells in several ways, inducing cell cycle delay and apoptotic death, and enhancing ionizing radiation (IR)-mediated responses. However, fewer studies have examined RSV effects on normal cells. We have treated human lymphocytes in vitro with RSV, either alone or combined with IR, to evaluate its potential use as a radioprotector. We measured the effects of RSV on induction of DNA damage, repair kinetics, and modulation of histone deacetylase activity.