Abstract: According to the heating effect caused by interaction between matters, a series of experiments on the interaction between drugs and cells from human bodies, DNA and physiological saline have been carried out with a MS-80 standard Calvet microcalorimeter. The experiments include: (1) Thermokinetic studies of the effect of anticancer drugs [sodium norcantharidate (ASN), the bioactire materials (Sp.P and Sp.S) from algae etc.]on the cancer cells [Hela, human breast carcinoma (Bcap-37), human adenocarcinoma gastric cells (SGc-7901 and MCF-7) etc.] and the normal cells from human bodies [diploid fibroblasts from human fetal lung (2BS) etc.] at 310.15 K:(2) Studies of the in- tercalation binding of some alkaloidal drugs with the bioactivity to inhibit monoamine oxidase (harmalinc and harmine etc.) to call thymus DNA in neutral aqueous solution at 298.15 K:(3) Studies of the interaction between long acting drugs (long acting oral contraceptive-norgestrel etc.) and slowreleasing drug (Contac) and aqueous solution of 0.9% NaCl at 310.15 K. All the experimental results have given their characteristic thermograms and the interaction enthalpy changes. On the analysis of all the results, the authors put forward a method on application of microcalorimetric technique for screening and examination of medicines. The principle of application and the experimental operation of this method have been expounded, and some results of the above experiments have been discussed. As one of the methods for screening and examining medicines, the microcalorimctric method has some distinguished features and advantages over other methods.

Key words: Anticancer drug, Cell, DNA, Thermogram, Enthalpy change