In this paper, the electrochemical behavior of rutin and its interaction with DNA were investigated using voltammetry and spectroscopy. In 0.05 mol L-1 B-R buffer solution (50% ethanol, pH 5.02), rutin exhibited excellent electrochemical activity. In the presence of DNA, the peak current of rutin decreased in a quantitative fashion and the peak potential shifted to a more positive potential value in both cases of DNA in solution and modified on electrode surface by Langmuir-Blodgett technique, indicating the dominance of intercalative interaction. The binding of rutin with DNA, analyzed in terms of the cooperative Hill model, yields the association constant K-a = 1.58 x 10(5) and a Hill coefficient m = 2.09. The results serve as a reference for the study of rutin with DNA base pairs in the natural environment of living cells. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V.