With the aim of sensitive determination of luteolin, a new poly (crystal violet)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified electrode (PCV/MWCNTs/GCE) was fabricated by casting multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) onto the surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE), then electro-polymerizing crystal violet (CV) on the MWCNTs/GCE matrix. Characterization of the novel modified electrode was carried out by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The electrochemical behaviors of luteolin indicated that the PCV/MWCNTs/GCE can greatly enhance the electrocatalytic activity in the redox process of luteolin. It leads to a considerable improvement of the redox peak current for luteolin and allows the development of a sensitive voltammetric sensor for the determination of luteolin. Under optimized conditions, the oxidative peak currents increased linearly for the concentration of luteolin in the range of 2.0 x 10(-9) to 7.0 x 10(-5) M with a detection limit of 5.0 x 10(-9) M (S/N = 3). The novel modified electrode demonstrated high sensitivity, good reproducibility and long-term stability. The proposed method was adopted for detection of luteolin in Chrysanthemum as a real sample with satisfactory results. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.