The fluorescence of praseodymium(III) complex containing 2,2'-bipyridine, [Pr(bpy)(2)Cl-3 center dot OH2] has been investigated in details. Also, the biological activity of (Pr(bpy)(2)Cl-3 center dot OH2] has been evaluated by examining its ability to bind to DNA with UV-vis, fluorescence as well as viscosity measurement. The fluorescence of [Pr(bpy)(2)Cl-3 center dot OH2] is strongly quenched through static mechanism in the presence of DNA. DNA intrinsic binding constant, K-b the binding site number, n the Stern-Volmer quenching constant, K-SV and the thermodynamic parameters have been determined by fluorescence spectroscopy. For characterization of bonding mode, the effect of various experimental parameters were investigated on the interaction of [Pr(bpy)(2)Cl-3 center dot OH2] with DNA. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.