Effect of essential heavy metals on antioxidant enzyme activities of catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in Polianthus tuberosa cv. ‘Prajwal’

Heavy metals are known inducers of oxidative stress by directly producing reactive oxygen species (ROS), which leads to formation of lipid peroxidation and modulate the activities of antioxidant enzymes and causes disturbances in metabolic functions. The modulation of antioxidant enzyme system like superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase are reported. Accumulated heavy metals also cause conflict in metabolic functions, trigger detoxifying enzymes, and antioxidant system damage leads to oxidative stress and causes damage to protein and other biochemical constituents. In the present investigation, the heavy metals Zn, Cu and Mn were determined in soil to study their effect on the activity of antioxidant enzymes in Polianthus tuberosa cv. ‘Prajwal’.