The mechanism of the interaction between hydrazide-podophyllic (HDPP) metal (Me) complexes and calf thymus (ct) DNA in Tris buffer (pH 7.08) was studied by viscosity measurements, electronic absorption, gel electrophoresis, and ethidium bromide (EB) fluorescence spectroscopy. The results from varied experiments show that the intensity of the maximal absorption peaks from absorption spectra is weakened in the presence of DNA compared with that in the absence of DNA. Meanwhile, DNA can remarkably quench the emission intensity of the complex Me-HDPP system. The Me-HDPP complexes can increase the viscosity of ct DNA slightly and catalyze the cleavage of super coiled pBR322 DNA to the nicked form. The complexes of Ni-HDPP and Co-HDPP can be bound to ct DNA mainly by interaction, while the partial interaction of Zn-HDPP and ct DNA is the major modes. The binding constant of Me-HDPP complexes with ct DNA was determined.