Synthesis and structural characterization of a new pyridylimidazole based vanadyl compound [VO2(L) (L-)] (1) [L = 2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole] (1) are reported. It crystallizes in Pi space group. The molecular geometry of 1 around vanadium(V) is found to be distorted octahedron. 1 interacts with DNA in a intercalative fashion. Hypochromism of the absorption band of the complex with increasing concentration of DNA and the steady increase in DNA viscosity with increasing concentration of 1 indicates intercalative mode of binding. The binding constant is calculated as 2.76 x 10(5)M(-1). 1 also shows cytotoxicity against human breast cancer, human lung cancer and human keratinocyte cancer cell lines. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.