Quercetin and its glycosides showed a strong free radical scavenging effect to DPPH radical generation. However, there were not big differences between quercetin aglycone and glycosides under experimental condition of this study. On the other hand, quercetin had pro-oxidant effect in bleomycin-dependent DNA assay. Quercetin aglycone and its glycosides, quercitrin inhibited $H_2$$O_2$- induced DNA damage in CHL cells. They also have an anticlastogenicity toward DNA breakage agent by radical generation like bleomycin. These results indicate that quercetin aglycone and its glycosides are capable of protecting the free radical generation induced by reactive oxygen species like $H_2$$O_2$. The mechanism of inhibition in hydrogen peroxide-induced genotoxicity may be due to their free radical scavenging properties. Therefore, quercetin aglycone and its glycosides may be useful chemopreventive agents by protecting of free radical generation which are involved in carcinogenesis and aging. However, quercetin and its glycosides must also carefully examined for pro-oxidant properties before being proposed for use in vivo.