Inhibitory effect of resveratrol on the proliferation of human and rat hepatic derived cell lines

Resveratrol is a polyphenolic compound especially produced by grapevine and consequently found in wine. Based on epidemiological studies resveratrol m ay act as a cancer chemopreventive compound. The ability of resveratrol to inhibit cell proliferation was studied in rat hepatoma Fao cell line and hu man hepatoblastoma HepG2 cell line. The results show that resveratrol stron gly inhibits cell proliferation at the micromolar range in a time- and dose -dependent manner. Concentrations higher than 50 mu M become toxic. Fao cel ls are more sensitive than HepG2 cells. Interestingly, the presence of etha nol lowers the threshold of resveratrol effect. Resveratrol appears to prev ent or to delay the entry to mitosis since no inhibition of [H-3]thymidine incorporation is observed, while there is an increase of cell number in S a nd G2/M phases. In conclusion, resveratrol shows a strong inhibition of hep atic cell proliferation where alcohol may act as an enhancing agent.