Abstract Two novel mixed ligand coordination polymers (CPs) {[Co(bdc)(bidp)]·H2O}n (1, bidp = 1,3-bis(5,6-dimethylbenzimidazol-1-yl)propane, H2bdc = 1,4- terephthalic acid) and {[Cd(bdc)(bibh)1.5]·H2O}n (2, bibh = 1,6-bis(benzimidazol-1-yl)hexane) and were prepared and then characterized via powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and IR spectra, the analysis of element and the analysis of single crystal X-ray diffraction. In addition, these two complexes have good photocatalytic activities for the degradation of methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB) under the irradiation of ultraviolet light. In the study of biological functions, the protective effect of compounds 1 and 2 were assessed, and their detail mechanisms were discussed. First of all, the relative expression level of the pink 1 gene was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). After that, the IL-1β and TNF-α content was detected by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detection kit.