Resveratrol as a new type of DNA-cleaving agen

The first demonstration of DNA cleavage by resveratrol ‘3,5,4′-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene’ is presented. Resveratrol mediated relaxation of pBR322 at micromolar concentrations in the presence of Cu2+. Evidence is provided that resveratrol is capable of binding to DNA, and that the Cu2+-dependent DNA damage is more likely caused by a copper-peroxide complex rather than by a freely diffusible oxygen species.