Four new solid ternary complexes of lanthanide with Schiff base (isoniazid furalacylhydrazone) and sodium salicylate [Ln(FLSY) (Lin)(NO 3 )] NO 3 ¢H 2 O (Ln D La, Ce, Nd, Er; FLSY D isoniazid furalacylhydrazone; Lin D sodium salicylate) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, UV-Vis, 1 H NMR, TG-DTA, and XPS. The antibacterial activities test indicate that all the complexes exhibit moderate antibacterial ability against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with broad antimicrobial spectrums. The cytotoxic activity of the complexes has been tested by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. The complexes can effectively inhibit the proliferation of K562 tumor cells. The authors investigate the interactions of the Er complex with calf-thymus DNA (CT DNA) employing florescence spectroscopic studies, cyclic voltammetric experiment, ultraviolet spectrum studies, and photoactivated cleavage. DNA interaction studies suggest the Er complex can intercalate between DNA base pairs and the complex can photocleave pBR322 DNA in vitro.