The interactions between rutin or the inclusion complex of rutin-β-cyclodextrin and DNA were investigated by means of cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and fluorescence emission spectroscopy. The apparent binding constant of rutin with DNA is found to be 2.9×10^4 L/mol. The results showed that the benzopyranic-4-one plane of rutin mainly intercalated into DNA in the absence of β-cyclodextrin, while the catecholic portion of rutin was located in the double helix of DNA in the presence of β-cyclodextrin.