In order to evaluate the suppressive effects of galangin on the DNA damage induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea(MNU), in vitro sister chromatid exchange(SCE) test using Chinese Hamster ovary(CHO) cells was performed. Also the determinations of [$^{3}$H] MNU-induced total DNA binding and methylated DNA were performed to find out the mechanism of action by galangin. MNU-induced SCEs were significantly decreased by simultaneous and pretreatment of galangin when S-9 mix was added only. In post-treatment, however, the MNU-induced SCEs were not decreased when S-9 mix was added or not. [$^{3}$H] MNU-induced total DNA binding was significantly inhibited by the treatment of galangin in calf thymus DNA and CHO cells. HPLC analysis of DNA hydrolysates shows that galangin caused a dose-dependant decrease in calf thymus DNA, but not significant decrease in CHO cells. These results suggest that the inhibition of galangin on the MNU-induced SCEs is due to the decrease of DNA binding and methylation with MNU. Therefore, galangin may be useful as a chemopreventive agent of alkylating agents.