Chemopreventive agent resveratrol, a natural product derived from grapes, reversibly inhibits progression through S and G2 phases of the cell cycle in U937 cells

Resveratrol, a natural product derived from grapes, has been shown to preve nt carcinogenesis in murine models. We report here that resveratrol induces antiproliferation and arrests the S phase in human histiocytic lymphoma U9 37 cells. Resveratrol induces arrest in the S phase at low concentrations ( 30-60 muM), but high concentrations do not induce S phase accumulation in U 937 cells. Removal of resveratrol from the culture medium stimulates U937 c ells to reenter the cell cycle synchronously, as judged by the expression p atterns of cyclin E, A and by fluorescent activated cell sorting analysis. These data demonstrate that resveratrol causes S phase arrest and reversibl e cell cycle arrest. Thus, resveratrol provides an important new cell cycle blocker as well as a cancer chemopreventive agent. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scien ce Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.