Characterization of the interaction between human serum albumin and morin

The interaction of morin with human serum albumin (HSA) has been investigated by using fluorescence, UV absorption and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic approaches for the first time. Fluorescence data revealed the presence of a specific binding site on HSA for morin, and the binding affinity was 1.13 ± 0.11 × 10− 5 L Mol− 1 in the physiological condition. The intrinsic fluorescence of morin was conspicuously enhanced in the presence of HSA due to excited-state proton transfer. The binding ability of morin to protein decreased with the increase of the buffer pH from 6.4 to 8.4, which signified that the level of protonation of the hydroxyl groups played an important role during the drug–protein binding process. From the UV absorption spectra of morin in various pH medium, the dissociation behaviors of the hydroxyl groups on the drug molecule were assigned. The second derivative UV absorption spectra of morin after interacting with HSA were used to elucidate the binding mode of morin to protein. The obvious red shift of the UV absorption band I of morin upon binding to HSA further confirmed the formation of HSA–morin complex, and this property was also utilized to estimate the binding constant. The interaction between morin and HSA induced an obvious reduction of the protein α-helix and β-sheet structures.