In this study, two novel complexes [Cu(MCVH)phen(H 2 O)] · ClO 4 (1) and [Cu(MCLH)phen(H 2 O)] · ClO 4 (2)(here, MCVH 2 -7(؍hydroxy-4-methyl-8-coumarinyl) valine, MCLH 2 -7(؍hydroxy-4-methyl-8-coumarinyl) leucine) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, molar conductance, infrared spectra (IR), 1 H-NMR and UV-Vis measurements. The interactions of them with calf thymus DNA (ct DNA) have been investigated by absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism spectroscopy and viscosity measurements. Experimental results reveal an intercalative interaction with DNA for the complexes, furthermore the binding affinity of 2 is higher than that of 1 according to the calculated binding constant values. In addition, they were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities toward human prostate cancer cell (PC3), human liver cell (L02) and human myeloid leukemia cancer cell (HL-60) by acid phosphoatase assay. Both of them showed significant cytotoxic potency.Key words copper(II) complex; coumarin derivative; DNA-binding; intercalative mode; cytotoxic activity Chem. Pharm. Bull. 58(8) 1003-1008 (2010) © 2010 Pharmaceutical Society of Japan * To whom correspondence should be addressed. e-mail: tangn@lzu.edu.cn; wangqin329@yahoo.com.cn concentrations of 1 and 2 as constant at 10 mM while varying the concentration of ct DNA. Fitting was completed using an Origin 6.0 spreadsheet, where values of the binding constants K b were calculated.Fluorescence spectra of the competitive binding experiments were carried out by maintaining the EB and ct DNA concentration at 3 mM and 30 mM, respectively, while increasing the concentrations of the complexes. Fitting was completed using an Origin 6.0 spreadsheet, where values of K q were calculated.Viscosity experiments were carried out on an Ubbelodhe viscometer, immersed in a thermostated water-bath maintained at 25.0Ϯ0.1°C. Titrations were performed for the complexes (1-5 mM), and each compound was introduced into DNA solution (50 mM) present in the viscometer. Flow time was measured with a digital stopwatch and each sample was measured three times and an average flow time was calculated.The CD spectra of DNA were recorded on a Jasco J-810 spectropolarimeter at 25.0Ϯ0.1°C. Calf thymus DNA used were 120 mM in concentration and compounds solutions was added to a ratio of 1 : 1 (DNA/compound). Each sample solution was scanned in the range of 200-350 nm. CD spectrum was generated which represented the average of three scans from which the buffer background had been subtracted.Acid Phosphoatase Assay The reagent, p-nitrophenyl phosphate (p-NPP), was obtained from Amresco. The compounds synthesized were dissolved in dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and diluted in culture medium. The final concentration of DMSO in cultures was always not exceeding 0.5% (v/v), which did not cause toxicity. The PC3 and HL-60 cells obtained from ATCC were maintained in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) medium with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 100 U/ml penicillin and 10...