Two Cu(II) complexes based on curcumin, namely CuL21 [HL1 = 1,7-bis[4-(2-oxymethylenepyridine)-3-methoxyl]phenyl-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-diketone] and CuL22 [HL2 = 1,7-bis[4-(3-oxymethylene-2 chlorothiophene)-3-methoxyl] phenyl-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-diketone], have been synthesized and characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods. The interactions of calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) with both complexes have been investigated by UV–Vis absorption, fluorescence and viscosity titration methods. Both complexes are found to interact with CT-DNA by intercalative binding modes. Evaluation of the cytotoxicities of the complexes against three human tumor cells showed that they have potent cytotoxicities against all three cell lines.