Antioxidant capacity of Brassica juncea plants exposed to elevated levels of copper

Brassica juncea L. eight-day-old seedlings treated with various concentrations (50–200 µM) of copper for 48 h accumulated Cu more in the roots than in leaves. Accumulation of copper resulted in more active lipid peroxidation and depletion of glutathione (GSH) pools in both roots and shoots, which was attributed to copper-induced additional oxidative stress. Activities of ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were higher in both roots and shoots while catalase activity increased in leaves but remained unchanged in roots in response to copper accumulation. Changes in lipid peroxidation, GSH content, and antioxidant enzyme activities suggest that oxidative damage may be involved in copper toxicity.From Fiziologiya Rastenii, Vol. 52, No. 2, 2005, pp. 233–237.Original English Text Copyright © 2005 by Devi, Prasad.This article was submitted by the authors in English.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.