The biotic and abiotic stress conditions imposed on plants induces overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can cause damage to cellular structures and even lead to the death of the plant. The biochemical and physiological responses of higher plants to oxidative stress includes an efficient antioxidant defense system, which involves the activity of the enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, peroxiredoxines, among others, in addition to non-enzymatic metabolites, which, together, work on eliminating the ROS and in reducing oxidative damage. This review will address the main production sites of ROS and the action of some enzymes of antioxidative defense system in plants.
ROS; hydrogen peroxide; superoxide radical; antioxidant enzymes
