Cadmium-Induced Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress in Plants

Abstract

The numerous deleterious health effects upon exposure to toxic heavy metals in theenvironment are a matter of serious concern and a global issue. Cadmium is classifiedas a no-redox metal, but in biological systems, it is characterized by developing redoxcell imbalance. It is well documented that in many plants, acute and chronic Cd exposureincreases reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS, respectively) in thecell. ROS and RNS could be acting as deleterious molecules inducing an oxidative/nitrosativeinjury that could result in growth inhibition, accelerated senescence, or cell death;or as essential components in the signaling cascade through plants? response to copewith metal stress. An understanding of the mechanisms by which plants perceive, transduce,and counterbalance Cd-induced oxidative or nitrosative stress signals to initiateacclimation or adaptive responses can be helpful in developing plants with increasedtolerance to metal stress.Keywords: Antioxidant system