Flavonoids and genomic instability induced by ionizing radiation.

DNA is the cellular target that has the most damage induced by ionizing radiation (IR). If genomic instability resulting from this DNA damage is not correctly repaired, it leads to mutation, cancer and cell death. Flavonoids are a family of natural products that affect oxidative stress and enhance genomic stability through DNA interaction. Although flavonoids exert protective effects against IR in normal cells, they enhance genotoxicity effects of this radiation in cancer cells, a beneficial effect that is of interest in the design of new anticancer pharmaceuticals. This review describes the molecular effects of IR on DNA structure and mechanisms by which flavonoids exert their effect on ionizing-radiation-induced genomic instability.