Sevoflurane, one of the most commonly used inhalation anesthetics, induces apoptosis and oxidative stress in lymphocytes. Propofol, an intravenous anesthetic, exhibits antiapoptotic and antioxidative activities. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate whether propofol attenuates sevoflurane-induced cellular injury in human peripheral lymphocytes. Lymphocytes harvested from healthy volunteers were assigned to treatments with different concentrations of propofol, or 8% sevoflurane, or their combination. Propofol at concentrations of 5, 10 or $25{mu}g/mL$ had little effect, but $50{mu}g/mL$ propofol or 8% sevoflurane significantly reduced cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential (${Delta}{Psi}m$), and increased cell apoptosis, activation of caspase-3 and the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species, compared with untreated cells. Five and ten ${mu}g/mL$ propofol attenuated the impact of sevoflurane on cell viability, apoptosis and ${Delta}{Psi}m$, and 5, 10 and $25{mu}g/mL$ propofol inhibited the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species stimulated by sevoflurane. However, a combination of $50{mu}g/mL$ propofol and 8% sevoflurane led to more severe cellular injury than sevoflurane alone. The results suggest that propofol can attenuate sevoflurane-induced cellular injury of human peripheral lymphocytes in a concentration-dependent manner, providing a rational for the clinical use of sevoflurane combined with appropriate doses of propofol.