Spectroscopic studies on the interaction between anthragallol and DNA using of ethidium bromide as a fluorescence probe

•We developed a new method to evaluate ability of molecules embedded in DNA.•The bonding methods were investigated by various experiments.•We first calculated binding anthragallol saturation value at 3.75.

The interaction of DNA with anthragallol (Ant) was investigated using ethidium bromide (EB) as a fluorescence probe, and the binding mechanism of Ant with DNA was researched via viscosity measurements. The results indicate that there is a complex of Ant and DNA, as confirmed by Ultraviolet visible absorption spectroscopy (UV–vis), Fluorescent and Resonance Light Scattering spectrum (RLS) and viscosity measurements. Ant molecules could intercalate with the base pairs of DNA as evidenced by the hyperchromic effect of absorption spectra, the relative viscosity of DNA and significant increases in the melting temperature. The binding constants of Ant and DNA were obtained by the fluorescence quenching technique. Furthermore, the binding mechanisms of the reaction of Ant with DNA were also investigated. The RLS assay successfully evaluated the saturated value and measured the potential toxicity of Ant. Adriamycin, chrysophanol, rhein, and alizarin can be used as references to build a method based on the mechanism of interactions with DNA and the DNA-saturation binding value to rapidly evaluate the potential toxicity of Ant.

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