Abstract
In plants, there is a complex and multilevel network of the antioxidative system (AOS) operating to counteract harmful reactive species (RS), the foremost important of which are reactive oxygen species (ROS), and maintain homeostasis within the cell. Specific AOSs for plant cells are, first and foremost, enzymes of the glutathione-ascorbate cycle (Asc-GSH), followed by phenolic compounds and lipophilic antioxidants like carotenoids and tocopherols. Evidence that plant cells have excellent antioxidative defense systems is their ability to survive at H2O2 concentrations incompatible with animal cell life. For the survival of stressed plants, it is of particular importance that AOS cooperate and participate in redox reactions, therefore, providing better protection and regeneration of the active reduced forms. Considering that plants abound in antioxidant compounds, and humans are not predisposed to synthesize the majority of them, new fields of research have emerged. Antioxidant potential of plant compounds has been exploited for anti-aging formulations preparation, food fortification and preservation but also in designing new therapies for diseases with oxidative stress implicated in etiology.
Introduction
Plants are multicellular organisms which, thanks to their inability to makeover, have very well-developed adaptation systems and mechanisms of protection to varying environmental conditions. External factors like drought, high and low temperatures; also as high levels of radiation have an adverse effect on plants. A standard characteristic of varied stressors is their potential to promote the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plant tissue, the build-up of which within the cell causes oxidative stress. This term was initially introduced by . Namely, oxidative stress implies an interruption of the redox equilibrium as a consequence of the increased level of ROS within the cell itself; however, the most recent version of definition may be “imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in favor of the oxidants, leading to a disruption of redox signaling and control and/or molecular damage” (). Also, recently, oxidative stress is classified in subforms: oxidative stress present in physiological conditions (eustress), and oxidative stress expressing deleterious effects on macromolecules (distress; ).
Paradoxically, oxygen as a molecule which sustains aerobic life, against being essential for energy metabolism and respiration, is involved within the mechanism of the onset of various diseases and degenerative conditions (). With the evolution of photosynthesis, initially by cyanobacteria and afterwards by plants, over 2 billion years ago, the quantity of oxygen on Earth has increased significantly. Molecular oxygen is made as a by-product during this process by operation of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC), which is a component of the photosystem (PS) II (). The massive quantities of present oxygen enabled the production of more ATP via aerobic respiration but also increased the danger of ROS formation. Aerobic organisms are ready to survive by virtue of the event of antioxidant protection mechanisms, exhibiting a defensive role against a vast number of ROS ().
Molecular oxygen can act as an oxidant, but despite its high thermodynamic reactivity, its reactions are kinetically slow thanks to the prevailing spin restriction (Krieger-Liszkay, 2005). In its ground state, oxygen appears as a triplet (3O2), with two unpaired electrons (biradical) of parallel spins in two separate orbitals, which makes it paramagnetic and thus shows no affinity for organic molecules unless activated. Oxygen activation is often achieved by two mechanisms ():
Absorbing excess energy sufficient to rotate the spin of one unpaired electron to make a single state (1O2), during which two electrons are of opposite spin.
A multi-step monovalent reduction to the formation of superoxide radical (O2•−), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxyl radical (•OH), and eventually water.
By activation, the spin restriction has been surpassed and 1O2 can interact in two-electron transfer reactions, while its oxidizing capacity is greatly increased. The gradual reduction of triplet oxygen, exposing to high energy or electron transfer reactions, results in the formation of ROS (). Numerous defense mechanisms are implicated within the battle against these highly reactive molecules, the foremost important being the antioxidative system (AOS). The goal of such a system is to guard cells against ROS and oxidative stress that happens if the influence of ROS prevails (). When determining if some molecule would behave as anti‐ or prooxidant of particular importance are micro-conditions (pH, presence of trace metals, etc.) restricted for specific cell compartment.
In this short review paper, we have selected the ROS, briefly summarized their main characteristics, described their prooxidant activities, and outlined the most prominent antioxidants in plants.
Reactive Oxygen Species
Reactive species (RS) are a broad term and include ROS, nitrogen [reactive nitrogen species (RNS)], sulfur [reactive sulfur species (RSS)], and other species, several of which are free radicals, and each has the potential to cause oxidative stress as a result of their accumulation within the cell to a level that exceeds the capacity to remove them (). ROS are the most vital group of RS and include, additionally to free radicals, non-radical forms which do not have unpaired electrons but also are highly reactive, e.g., H2O2, 1O2, hypochlorous acid (HClO), and ozone (O3). Free radicals are known since the twentieth century within the world of chemistry and were originally described as intermediate compounds in organic and inorganic chemistry (). These molecules that have one or more unpaired electrons, leading to high reactivity, are formed when an atom or molecule “loses” or “gains” one electron, or during homolytic cleavage of a covalent bond. Conversely, when two free radicals share their unpaired electrons, non-radical species are formed (). The term “Reactive” may be a relative term, while •OH indiscriminately reacts with all biological molecules in its vicinity, O2•− and H2O2 are highly selective. From the pathophysiological, as well as the physiological, point of view, the foremost significant ROS are •OH, O2•−, organic alkoxy (RO•), and organic peroxyl radicals (ROO•) as well as non-radical species: 1O2, H2O2, and O3 ().
Toxicity is not necessarily associated with reactivity. In many cases, the longer half-life of ROS provides an extended time for diffusion and consequently the power to succeed in sensitive sites within a cell where it can react with biomolecules far away from the location of its generation. For instance, the relatively long-lived O2•− (with a half-life of 1–4 μs and migration distance of 30 nm) generated on the mitochondrial membrane, diffuses toward the mitochondrial genome and reduces the transition metals within the genome itself. Singlet oxygen has approximately equivalent properties as O2•− with the best affinity to Trp, His, Tyr, and Cys residues of proteins. Hydrogen peroxide could live quite 1 ms, and its migration distance is in range of 1 μm, enabling to react with DNA and Cys and Met residues of protein far away from its origin (). On the contrary, extremely reactive •OH features a half-life of roughly 1 ns and migration distance of 1 nm, therefore, reacting with all neighboring biomolecules like DNA, RNA, lipids, and proteins (Figure 1).
Figure 1
To prevent the interaction between radicals and biological molecules, antioxidants should be in close vicinity to the radical’s place of formation, being in competition with the free radical for the biological substrate (
One of the foremost studied ROS is hydrogen peroxide. It exhibits a dual role: in low concentrations, it participates in signal transduction, while in high concentrations, it exerts a toxic effect on the cell. Under physiological conditions, the extent of H2O2 in leaves ranges approximately 1 μmol per gram of fresh tissue weight, i.e., 10 μmol/L H2O2 in peroxisomes (
Plants are especially exposed to oxidative stress caused by 1O2 since they are rich in chlorophyll (Chl) which acts as a photosensitizer, and 1O2 is consistently generated in leaves. Chlorophyll is an efficient pigment which absorbs light within the so-called light-harvesting complexes (LHCs), intrinsic antennas, and PS II reaction centers, with the extra advantage that its excited state is long-lived enough to supply excitatory energy conversion to electrochemical potential via the method of charge separation during photosynthesis (Krieger-Liszkay, 2005;
Superoxide anion radical (O2•−) is the primary cell-generated ROS which triggers a cascade of reactions and, therefore, the formation of secondary ROS, either directly or via enzymatic and metal-catalyzed processes, counting on the cell compartment. Generated via single-electron reduction of molecular oxygen within the cell, it is rapidly converted to H2O2 by superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) activity, preventing the build-up of O2•−, and thereupon damage and inactivation of proteins containing Fe-S clusters (
Hydroxyl radical (•OH) is taken into account as the most potent oxidant which, owing to its short half-life, very positive redox potential (close to +2 V) and high affinity for biomolecules, non-selectively oxidize DNA, proteins, lipids, amino acids, sugars, and metals, leading to damage or genetic instability. Generally, •OH is formed from H2O2 within the presence of iron or copper ions within the reaction described as well-known Fenton reaction (
Sources of ROS in Plant Cells
Free radicals and other oxygen derivatives are inevitable by-products of biological redox reactions, as well as a consequence of aerobic metabolism in plants (Figure 2).
Figure 2

The main sites of ROS formation in a plant cell. ETC, electron transport chain; PS, photosystem; NOX, NAD(P)H oxidase; GAL, galactono-γ lactone dehydrogenase; XO, xanthine oxidase – adapted from:
ROS are primarily formed in chloroplasts, mitochondria, plasma membranes, peroxisomes, apoplast, and endoplasmic reticulum (
Additionally, production of ROS (primarily O2•− and H2O2) occurs when molecular oxygen is reduced by mainly electron leakage in mitochondrial complex I and III (about 1–5% of oxygen is converted to H2O2;
Role of ROS in Signal Transduction
Reactive oxygen species do not have an exclusively detrimental effect on the cell and its components. Namely, increasing attention is focused on the benefits of ROS for plants since ROS support cell proliferation, physiological processes, and viability and maintaining the basal level of ROS within the cell is specifically important. ROS, created by various enzymes in plants, perform fine-tuning of signal transduction process associated with plant growth and defense against biotic and abiotic stressors. Regulated production of low concentrations of ROS features a signal role. RBOH-dependent ROS are related to plant’s defense response to pathogens but also with plant growth. Namely, a temporary ROS increase within the apoplast is essential for leaf and root growth and differentiation (
Therefore, ROS act as activators of signaling pathways for biological processes initiation. Signal translation mediated by redox reactions occurs primarily by oxidation and reduction of cysteine residues. Hence, for instance, H2O2 mediated oxidation of cysteine residues occur within the presence of nanomolar concentrations of H2O2. In contrast, H2O2 present in higher levels may irreversibly oxidize thiolate anions to sulfuric (SO2−) or sulfonic (SO3−) species, consequently promoting oxidative damage of biomolecules (
Figure 3

The basal level ROS-induced regulation of essential processes in a plant cells – adapted from:
Plant Antioxidant Defense System
Excessive oxidation and reduction of cell components are equally detrimental, so maintaining redox homeostasis is crucial (
By definition, antioxidants represent molecules capable of inhibiting or quenching free radical reactions and delaying or preventing cell damage, and, in lower concentration than potential substrate which might be oxidized, significantly delay or hinder its oxidation (
Figure 4

Antioxidative system location in a plant cell. APX, ascorbate peroxidase; CAT, catalase, DHAR, dehydroascorbate reductase; MDAR, monodehydroascorbate reductase; GR, glutathione reductase; GRX, glutaredoxin; SOD, superoxide dismutase; NTR, NADPH-thioredoxin reductase; PRX, peroxiredoxin; TRX, thioredoxin – adapted from:
These molecules could self-react with ROS, but the removal efficiency is higher in enzyme-mediated reactions, like those catalyzed by APX (EC 1.11.1.11), ascorbate oxidase (AscO, EC 1.10.3.3), SOD, catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), and GPx (EC 1.11.1.9;
The antioxidant, which donates or receives electrons, is stabilized by π-electrons delocalization and resonance, and this is the case with Asc, phenolic compounds, and tocopherols. However, the advantage of scavengers over enzymatic antioxidants is their small size, which allows them to diffuse through cell membranes and localize near biological molecules which are potential targets of ROS (
The most significant antioxidant in plant tissue, present at millimolar concentrations in chloroplasts, is Asc, followed by glutathione (GSH), which is present at 1,000 times lower concentration than Asc but is additionally vital. Specific enzyme systems (peroxidases) create the chance to rapidly react with H2O2, and their oxidized forms are regenerated by specific high-capacity reductases. In most cases, the entire amount of those antioxidants is greatly reduced (over 95%) within the cytosol, chloroplast, and mitochondria, with oxidized forms accumulating only in compartments with less efficient redox recycling mechanisms, like vacuoles and apoplasts (
Water-Water and Asc-GSH Cycle
The water-water cycle begins by reducing the ground state of molecular oxygen to O2•− on the acceptor side of PS I in Mehler’s reaction. Under physiological conditions, O2•− is rapidly reduced to water by superoxide dismutase (SOD;
Figure 5

The mechanism of water-water and Asc-GSH cycle – adapted from:
The Asc-GSH cycle is operating in various cellular compartments including the cytosol, mitochondria, chloroplast, and peroxisomes. Different isoforms of APX and SOD are localized within the stroma and thylakoid membrane, whereas chloroplast GR and DHAR are located within the stroma (
Peroxiredoxins, which belong to the family of peroxidases, are important in ROS detoxification since they reduce H2O2 and organic peroxides and add cooperation with thioredoxin (TRX) and TRX-like proteins in chloroplasts (
Enzymatic Antioxidants
Superoxide Dismutase
Superoxide dismutase plays a serious role in oxidative stress by catalyzing the rapid dismutation of O2•− and thus reducing the danger of •OH formation via metal-catalyzed reactions. SOD-catalyzed dismutation is 10,000 times faster than spontaneous reactions. The enzyme is present in all aerobic cells and subcellular compartments sensitive to oxidative stress (
These isoenzymes are differentiating in their sensitivity to H2O2 and KCN (
Catalase and Peroxidase
The intracellular level of H2O2 is regulated by several enzymes, the foremost important of which are catalases (CATs) and peroxidases participating within the fine regulation of ROS concentration through the cell (
Catalases are very efficient in H2O2 removal with a unique ability to convert two H2O2 molecules into water and molecular oxygen with no need for reduction equivalent. Precisely, this happens via oxidation of Fe2+ ion in heme, after which Fe2+ is reduced by reaction with H2O2. The Km value for CAT is within the millimolar range, which may be a far higher concentration of H2O2 within the cell than physiological, implying its role predominantly under stress conditions (
Glutathione peroxidases, which even have strong activity against H2O2, could use both GSH and TRX as reducing substrates and will eliminate lipid peroxides additionally to H2O2 (
Non-enzymatic Antioxidants
Ascorbic Acid
Ascorbate is taken into account a potent antioxidant thanks to its ability to donate electrons in an exceedingly wide selection of enzymatic and non-enzymatic reactions. It is especially present within the leaves and in higher concentration compared to GSH (
Ascorbate occurs in all subcellular compartments including the cell wall except for vacuoles where is present in low concentrations (
Ascorbate, as quantitatively dominant antioxidant in plant cells, is found altogether subcellular compartments including the apoplast with a mean concentration of 2–25 mmol/L or more within the chloroplast stroma (
Glutathione
The tripeptide, γ-glutamyl-cysteinyl glycine, the foremost abundant low relative molecular mass thiol within the cell, has been found in large quantities in every cell compartment: cytosol, chloroplast, endoplasmic reticulum, vacuoles, and mitochondria. It is not only specific to plant cells but also plays a really important role as a redox buffer amid Asc (
The reduced form of glutathione, GSH, may be a major sulfur depo form and plays important roles in various biological processes, including cellular growth, development, regulation of sulfur transport, signal transduction, protein and nucleic acid synthesis, phytochelatin synthesis for metal chelation, xenobiotic detoxification, and expression of genes liable for stress (
Together with its oxidized form, GSSG, reduced glutathione maintains redox balance within the cell. The cysteine residue in the molecule center is liable for the high reduction potential of GSH. As low relative molecular mass antioxidants, GSH could scavenge H2O2, or react non-enzymatically with 1O2, O2•−, and •OH (Krasnovsky, 1998). However, the main role of GSH as an antioxidant is its ability to regenerate another potent hydrophilic antioxidant, ascorbic acid, precisely through the Asc-GSH cycle. GSH helps to recycle oxidized Asc to the reduced state employing DHAR. GSH also can reduce DHA non-enzymatically at pH > 7 and GSH concentrations >1 mmol/l (
Carotenoids
Carotenoids, such as lycopene, β-carotene, xanthophyll, lutein, and zeaxanthin, are lipophilic antioxidants capable of detoxifying various ROS and most effectively capture the lipid peroxyl radical (LOO•), thus providing membrane protection. Carotenoids react with LOO• and form lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH) and a carotenoid radical which will be regenerated by tocopherol, and both tocopherol and carotenoid radicals might be reduced by Asc subsequently (
Present in plants, they may capture 3Chl, 1O2, also as excited chlorophyll (Chl∗) to guard the photosynthetic apparatus. Hence, β-carotene captures 1O2 with greater efficiency compared to α-tocopherol (
Tocopherols and Tocotrienols
Tocopherols and tocotrienols are essential components of the cell membrane where they express both antioxidant and non-antioxidant functions. There are four tocopherol and tocotrienol isomers (α, β, γ, and δ). Tocopherols are a gaggle of lipophilic antioxidants and are synthesized by photosynthetic organisms and present in green, photosynthetically active parts of the plant only. The antioxidant activity of tocopherol is predicated on the electron donor properties of the chromanol ring.
These antioxidants protect lipids and other membrane components by physically trapping and chemically reacting with 1O2 in chloroplasts, preserving the structure and performance of PS II. The method of 1O2 capture is extremely efficient and it has been estimated that 1 α-tocopherol molecule can neutralize up to 220 molecules of 1O2in vitro before its degradation (
The relative antioxidant activity of the isomers in vivo corresponds to the subsequent order α > β > γ > δ due to the methylation pattern and the number of methyl groups added to the polar head of the phenolic ring. Also, α-tocopherol, with its three methyl substituents, has the very best antioxidant activity. However, α-tocotrienol has been shown to possess better antioxidant activity than α-tocopherol within the membrane environment. The chloroplast membrane contains predominantly α isomer of tocopherol; therefore, they are well protected from photooxidative damage (
Vitamin E (collective term for tocopherols and tocotrienols) has the potential for regenerating lipid peroxyl, alkyl, and alkoxy radicals formed during the polyunsaturated fatty acids oxidation whereby directly prevent a sequence propagation during auto-oxidation of the lipid layer. By donating hydrogen atoms to the radical, vitamin E becomes tocopherol radical which is resonantly stabilized and not sufficiently reactive for independent initiation of membrane peroxidation, which is additionally a basic criterion for good antioxidants (
Phenolic Compounds
Phenols are a multifarious group of secondary metabolites (flavonoids, tannins, hydroxycinnamate esters, lignin, etc.) present in plant tissue (
The cooperation between Asc and phenols has been shown within the hydrogen-peroxide-peroxidase system which takes place in vacuole where H2O2 diffuses and may be reduced by peroxidases, and phenols are used because of the primary electron donors. Both Asc and MDA• radicals can reduce the phenoxy radical. If Asc regeneration takes place within the cytosol and Asc is delivered back to the vacuole, the peroxidase/phenols/Asc system can operate within the vacuole and capture H2O2. This mechanism is restricted to plant tissue and enhances plant tolerance during oxidative stress (Krasnovsky, 1998). The MDAR enzyme has also been shown to be capable of reducing the phenoxy radical, like quercetin radical, to phenol (
Conclusion and Outlooks
Accordingly, available data indicate that ROS detoxification pathways are not present to the extent they might remove all ROS from the cellular environment, but that there is a level of coordination between the processes which generate ROS and those which remove them, therefore, maintaining the optimal amount of ROS within the cellular environment.
A really popular trend for testing AOSs is the use of genetically transformed plants, with overexpressed or removed a selected component of AOS, as well as the application of artificial environmental conditions to cause oxidative stress. Extensive literature indicates that enhancing the expression of certain enzymes likes SOD, GR, and DHAR, utilizing gene-splicing, can improve plant tolerance to abiotic stress. Certainly, the enhancement of chloroplast antioxidative protection has been proven to be one among the foremost effective pathways for shielding plant cells from abiotic stress.
In addition to the fact that antioxidants are essential for plant’s subsistence, they may benefit humans and well. This claim has been supported by plenty of antioxidant formulations offered and available to us in markets. The main constituents of those formulations are principally plant’s extracts containing biologically active compounds well-known for some favorable effect. For instance, it has been investigated that natural compounds could help in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases for instance. Also, the fact that many of those antioxidants cannot be synthesized within human cells due to lack of enzymes in the first place, qualify them as essential nutrients for our population.
Extensive research is being conducted to investigate natural compounds which may curb or alleviate oxidative stress and thereupon empower the immune system and nowadays, we have a growing number of plant-based nutrition supporters. The last decade is supported by investigations of potentially beneficial mild prooxidant effects. Namely, moderate-dose exposure to noxious agents or factors induces an adaptive response of cells termed as hormesis. Overall, although six decades-long, this multiplex field of research is still dynamic and subject to evolve due to acquiring deeper insights and new knowledge of this intricate network of molecules and their reactions. Although particular antioxidant compounds express extraordinary antioxidant capacity in vitro, more challengeable and complex in vivo studies, which will perfectly simulate an intracellular environment with the presence of an orchestrated network of pro‐ and antioxidants should be conducted.
Statements
Author contributions
JD and VJ: conceptualization, investigation, resources, and writing – original draft preparation and visualization. VJ, EN, MN, and KK: validation. MN and VJ: formal analysis, writing – review, and editing. KK: supervision and funding acquisition. EN: project administration. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding
The authors acknowledge the financial support of the University of Hradec Kralove (Faculty of Science, VT2019-2021) and Excellence project Prf-2206, the University of Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, Czechia. This work is also supported by the Medical Faculty of the Military Medical Academy, University of Defense, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia (MFVMA/04/20-22).
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
References
1
AllenJ. F. (2009). Why chloroplasts and mitochondria retain their own genomes and genetic systems: collocation for redox regulation of gene expression. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A.112, 10231–10238. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1500012112
2
AlmagroL.Gómez RosL. V.Belchi-NavarroS.BruR.Ros BarcelóA.PedreñoM. A. (2008). Class III peroxidases in plant defence reactions. J. Exp. Bot.60, 377–390. doi: 10.1093/jxb/ern277
3
ApelK.HirtH. (2004). Reactive oxygen species: metabolism, oxidative stress, and signal transduction. Annu. Rev. Plant Biol.55, 373–399. doi: 10.1146/annurev.arplant.55.031903.141701
4
AroraA.SairamR. K.SrivastavaG. C. (2002). Oxidative stress and antioxidative system in plants. Curr. Sci.82, 1227–1238.
5
AsadaK. (1999). The water-water cycle in chloroplasts: scavenging of active oxygens and dissipation of excess photons. Plant Biol. Ann. Rev.50, 601–639. doi: 10.1146/annurev.arplant.50.1.601
6
BabyJ.JiniD. (2010). Insight into the role of antioxidant enzymes for salt tolerance in plants. Int. J. Bot.6, 456–464. doi: 10.3923/ijb.2010.456.464
7
BadawiG. H.KawanoN.YamauchiY.ShimadaE.SasakiR.KuboA.et al. (2004). Over-expression of ascorbate peroxidase in tobacco chloroplasts enhances tolerance to salt stress and water deficit. Physiol. Plant.121, 231–238. doi: 10.1111/j.0031-9317.2004.00308.x
8
BannisterJ. V.BannisterW. H.RotilioG. (1987). Aspects of the structure, function, and applications of superoxide dismutase. Crit. Rev. Biochem.22, 111–180. doi: 10.3109/10409238709083738
9
BartoliC. G.BuetA.GrozeffG. G.GalatroA.SimontacchiM. (2017). “Ascorbate-glutathione cycle and abiotic stress tolerance in plants” in Ascorbic acid in plant growth, development and stress tolerance. eds. HossainM. A.Munné-BoschS.BurrittD. J.Diaz-VivancosP.FujitaM.LorenceA. (Switzerland: Springer), 177–200.
10
BhattacharjeeS. (2005). Reactive oxygen species and oxidative burst: roles in stress, senescence and signal transduction in plants. Curr. Sci.89, 1113–1121.
11
BirbenE.SahinerU. M.SackesenC.ErzurumS.KalayciO. (2012). Oxidative stress and antioxidant defence. World Allergy Organ. J.5, 9–19. doi: 10.1097/WOX.0b013e3182439613
12
BlokhinaO.VirolainenE.FagerstedtK. V. (2003). Antioxidants, oxidative damage and oxygen deprivation stress: a review. Ann. Bot.91, 179–194. doi: 10.1093/aob/mcf118
13
BowlerC.MontaguM. V.InzéD. (1992). Superoxide dismutase and stress tolerance. Plant Biol. Ann. Rev.43, 83–116. doi: 10.1146/annurev.pp.43.060192.000503
14
ČernýM.HabánováH.BerkaM.LuklováM.BrzobohatýB. (2018). Hydrogen peroxide: its role in plant biology and crosstalk with signalling networks. Int. J. Mol. Sci.19:E2812. doi: 10.3390/ijms19092812
15
CheesemanJ. M. (2006). Hydrogen peroxide concentrations and leaves under natural conditions. J. Exp. Bot.57, 2435–2444. doi: 10.1093/jxb/erl004
16
ChenG. X.AsadaK. (1987). Ascorbate peroxidase in tea leaves: occurrence of two isozymes and differences in their enzymatic and molecular properties. Plant Cell Physiol.30, 987–998. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.pcp.a077844
17
DasK.RoychoudhuryA. (2014). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and response of antioxidants as ROS-scavengers during environmental stress in plants. Front. Environ. Sci.2:53. doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2014.00053
18
DaveyM. W.MontaguM. V.InzeD.SanmartinM.KanellisA.SmirnoffN.et al. (2000). Plant L-ascorbic acid: chemistry, function, metabolism, bioavailability and effects of processing. J. Sci. Food Agric.80, 825–860. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0010(20000515)80:7<825::AID-JSFA598>3.0.CO;2-6
19
DavletovaS.RizhskyL.LiangH.ShengqiangZ.OliverD. J.CoutuJ.et al. (2005). Cytosolic ascorbate peroxidase 1 is a central component of the reactive oxygen gene network of Arabidopsis. Plant Cell17, 268–281. doi: 10.1105/tpc.104.026971
20
De LeonardisS.DipierroN.DipierroS. (2000). Purification and characterization of an ascorbate peroxidase from potato tuber mitochondria. Plant Physiol. Biochem.38, 773–779. doi: 10.1016/S0981-9428(00)01188-8
21
Diaz VivancosP.DongY.ZieglerK.MarkovicJ.PallardóF. V.PellnyT. K.et al. (2010a). Recruitment of glutathione into the nucleus during cell proliferation adjusts whole-cell redox homeostasis in Arabidopsis thaliana and lowers the oxidative defence shield: recruitment of GSH into the nucleus. Plant J.64, 825–838. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-313X.2010.04371.x
22
Diaz VivancosP.WolffT.MarkovicJ.PallardóF. V.FoyerC. H. (2010b). A nuclear glutathione cycle within the cell cycle. Biochem. J.431, 169–178. doi: 10.1042/BJ20100409
23
DieboldL.ChandelN. S. (2016). Mitochondrial ROS regulation of proliferating cells. Free Radic. Biol. Med.100, 86–93. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2016.04.198
24
DietzK. J. (2011). Peroxiredoxins in plants and cyanobacteria. Antioxid. Redox Signal.15, 1129–1159. doi: 10.1089/ars.2010.3657
25
DumontS.RivoalJ. (2019). Consequences of oxidative stress on plant glycolytic and respiratory metabolism. Front. Plant Sci.10:166. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00166
26
ElstnerE. F. (1982). Oxygen activation and oxygen toxicity. Annu. Rev. Plant Biol.33, 73–96. doi: 10.1146/annurev.pp.33.060182.000445
27
Exposito-RodriguezM.LaissueP. P.Yvon-DurocherG.SmirnoffN.MullineauxP. M. (2017). Photosynthesis-dependent H2O2 transfer from chloroplasts to nuclei provides a high-light signalling mechanism. Nat. Commun.8:49. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-00074-w
28
FentonH. J. H. (1984). Oxidation of tartaric acid in the presence of iron. J. Chem. Soc. Trans.65, 899–910. doi: 10.1039/ct8946500899
29
FoyerC. H.HalliwellB. (1976). The presence of glutathione and glutathione reductase in chloroplasts: a proposed role in ascorbic acid metabolism. Planta133, 21–25. doi: 10.1007/BF00386001
30
FoyerC. H.LelandaisM. (1996). A comparison of the relative rates of ascorbate and glucose transport across the thylakoid, chloroplast, and plasmalemma membranes of pea leaf mesophyll cells. J. Plant Physiol.148, 391–398. doi: 10.1016/S0176-1617(96)80271-9
31
FoyerC. H.NoctorG. (2016). Stress-triggered redox signalling: what’s in pROSpect?Plant Cell Environ.39, 951–964. doi: 10.1111/pce.12621
32
FoyerC. H.ShigeokaS. (2011). Understanding oxidative stress and antioxidant functions to enhance photosynthesis. Plant Physiol.155, 93–100. doi: 10.1104/pp.110.166181
33
GillS. S.TutejaN. (2010). Reactive oxygen species and antioxidant machinery in abiotic stress tolerance in crop plants. Plant Physiol. Biochem.48, 909–930. doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2010.08.016
34
GuptaR.ChakrabartyS. K. (2013). Gibberellic acid in plant: still a mystery unresolved. Plant Signal. Behav.8:e25504. doi: 10.4161/psb.25504
35
HalliwellB.GutteridgeJ. M. (2015). Free radicals in biology and medicine. New York: Oxford University Press.
36
HanY.MhamdiA.ChaouchS.NoctorG. (2013). Regulation of basal and oxidative stress-triggered jasmonic acid-related gene expression by glutathione. Plant Cell Environ.36, 1135–1146. doi: 10.1111/pce.12048
37
HerbetteS.LenneC.LeblancN.JulienJ. L.DrevetJ. R.Roeckel-DrevetP. (2002). Two GPX-like proteins from Lycopersicon esculentum and Helianthus annuus are antioxidant enzymes with phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin peroxidase activities. Eur. J. Biochem.269, 2414–2420. doi: 10.1046/j.1432-1033.2002.02905.x
38
HuangH.UllahF.ZhouD. -X.YiM.ZhaoY. (2019). Mechanisms of ROS regulation of plant development and stress responses. Front. Plant Sci.10:800. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00800
39
IshibashiY.TawaratsumidaT.KondoK.KasaS.SakamotoM.AokiN.et al. (2012). Reactive oxygen species are involved in gibberellin/abscisic acid signaling in barley aleurone cells. Plant Physiol.158, 1705–1714. doi: 10.1104/pp.111.192740
40
IshikawaT.ShigeokaS. (2008). Recent advances in ascorbate biosynthesis and the physiological significance of ascorbate peroxidase in photosynthesizing organisms. Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem.72, 1143–1154. doi: 10.1271/bbb.80062
41
JiaL.XuW.LiW.YeN.LiuR.ShiL.et al. (2013). Class III peroxidases are activated in proanthocyanidin-deficient Arabidopsis thaliana seeds. Ann. Bot.111, 839–847. doi: 10.1093/aob/mct045
42
JimenezA.HernandezJ. A.del RíoL. A.SevillaF. (1997). Evidence for the presence of the ascorbate-glutathione cycle in mitochondria and peroxisomes of pea leaves. Plant Physiol.114, 275–284. doi: 10.1104/pp.114.1.275
43
JonesM.SmirnoffN. (2005). “Reactive oxygen species in plant development and pathogen defence” in Antioxidants and reactive oxygen species in plants. ed. SmirnoffN. (United Kingdom: Wiley Bleckwell), 197–214.
44
KehrerJ. P. (2000). The Haber–Weiss reaction and mechanisms of toxicity. Toxicology149, 43–50. doi: 10.1016/s0300-483x(00)00231-6
45
KohenR.NyskaA. (2002). Invited review: oxidation of biological systems: oxidative stress phenomena, antioxidants, redox reactions, and methods for their quantification. Toxicol. Pathol.30, 620–650. doi: 10.1080/01926230290166724
46
KrasnovskyJ. A. (1998). Singlet molecular oxygen in photo biochemical systems: IR phosphorescence studies. Memb. Cell Biol.12, 665–690. PMID:
47
Krieger-LiszkayA. (2005). Singlet oxygen production in photosynthesis. J. Exp. Bot.56, 337–346. doi: 10.1093/jxb/erh237
48
LarsonR. A. (1988). The antioxidants of higher plants. Phytochemistry27, 969–978.
49
LewisN. G.YamamotoE. (1990). Lignin: occurrence, biogenesis and biodegradation. Annu. Rev. Plant. Physiol. Plant. Mol. Biol. 41, 455–496. doi: 10.1146/annurev.pp.41.060190.002323
50
LiuL.LiJ. (2019). Communications between the endoplasmic reticulum and other organelles during abiotic stress response in plants. Front. Plant Sci.10:749. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00749
51
LushchakV. I. (2014). Free radicals, reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress and its classification. Chem. Biol. Interact.224, 164–175. doi: 10.1016/j.cbi.2014.10.016
52
MalikS. I.HussainA.YunB. W.SpoelS. H.LoakeG. J. (2011). GSNOR-mediated de-nitrosylation in the plant defence response. Plant Sci.181, 540–544. doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2011.04.004
53
MehlerH.BrownH. (1956). Studies on reactions of illuminated chloroplasts III. Simultaneous photoproduction and consumption of oxygen studied with oxygen isotopes. Arch. Biochem. Biophys.38, 365–370. doi: 10.1016/0003-9861(52)90042-8
54
MhamdiA.HagerJ.ChaouchS.QuevalG.HanY.TaconnatY.et al. (2010). Arabidopsis glutathione Reductase 1 is essential for the metabolism of intracellular H2O2 and to enable appropriate gene expression through both salicylic acid and jasmonic acid signalling pathways. Plant Physiol.153, 1144–1160. doi: 10.1104/pp.110.153767
55
MhamdiA.NoctorG.BakerA. (2012). Plant catalases: peroxisomal redox guardians. Arch. Biochem. Biophys.525, 181–194. doi: 10.1016/j.abb.2012.04.015
56
MittlerR. (2017). ROS are good. Trends Plant Sci.22, 11–19. doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2016.08.002
57
MittlerR.VanderauweraS.GolleryM.Van BreusegemF. (2004). Reactive oxygen gene network of plants. Trends Plant Sci.9, 490–498. doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2004.08.009
58
MiyakeC.AsadaK. (1996). Inactivation mechanism of ascorbate peroxidase at low concentrations of ascorbate; hydrogen peroxide decomposes compound I of ascorbate peroxidase. Plant Cell Physiol.37, 423–430. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.pcp.a028963
59
MoralesM.Munné-BoschS. (2016). Oxidative stress: a master regulator of plant trade-offs?Trends Plant Sci.21, 996–999. doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2016.09.002
60
MouralT. W.LewisK. M.BarnabaC.ZhuF.PalmerN. A.SarathG.et al. (2017). Characterization of class III peroxidases from switchgrass. Plant Physiol.173, 417–433. doi: 10.1104/pp.16.01426
61
NimseS. B.PalD. (2015). Free radicals, natural antioxidants, and their reaction mechanisms. RSC Adv.5, 27986–28006. doi: 10.1039/C4RA13315C
62
NoctorG.FoyerC. H. (1998). Ascorbate and glutathione: keeping active oxygen under control. Plant Biol. Ann. Rev.49, 249–279. doi: 10.1146/annurev.arplant.49.1.249
63
NoctorG.FoyerC. H. (2016). Intracellular redox compartmentation and ROS-related communication in regulation and signalling. Plant Physiol.171, 1581–1592. doi: 10.1104/pp.16.00346
64
NoctorG.ReichheldJ. P.FoyerC. H. (2018). ROS-related redox regulation and signalling in plants. Semin. Cell Dev. Biol.80, 3–12. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.07.013
65
PandeyV. P.AwasthiM.SinghS.TiwariS.DwivediU. N. (2017). A comprehensive review on the function and application of plant peroxidases. Biochem. Anal. Biochem.6:308. doi: 10.4172/2161-1009.1000308
66
PulidoP.CazalisR.CejudoF. J. (2009). An antioxidant redox system in the nucleus of wheat seed cells suffering oxidative stress. Plant J.57, 132–145. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-313X.2008.03675.x
67
QuevalG.JaillardD.ZechmannB.NoctorG. (2011). Increased intracellular H2O2 availability preferentially drives glutathione accumulation in vacuoles and chloroplasts. Plant Cell Environ.34, 21–32. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3040.2010.02222.x
68
ReczekC. R.ChandelN. S. (2015). ROS-dependent signal transduction. Curr. Opin. Cell Biol.33, 8–13. doi: 10.1016/j.ceb.2014.09.010
69
RhoadsD. M.UmbachA. L.SubbaiahC. C.SiedowJ. N. (2006). Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. Contribution to oxidative stress and interorganellar signaling. Plant Physiol.141, 357–366. doi: 10.1104/pp.106.079129
70
Rice-EvansC. A.MillerN. J.PagangaG. (1996). Structure-antioxidant activity relationships of flavonoids and phenolic acids. Free Radic. Biol. Med.20, 933–956. doi: 10.1016/0891-5849(95)02227-9
71
RizhskyL.LiangH.MittlerR. (2003). The water-water cycle is essential for chloroplast protection in the absence of stress. J. Biol. Chem.278, 38921–38925. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M304987200
72
SakakibaraH.HondaY.NakagawaS.AshidaH.KanazawaK. (2003). Simultaneous determination of all polyphenols in vegetables, fruits, and teas. J. Agric. Food Chem.51, 571–581. doi: 10.1021/jf020926l
73
SakihamaY.ManoJ. I.SanoS.AsadaK.YamasakiH. (2000). Reduction of phenoxyl radicals mediated by monodehydroascorbate reductase. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.279, 949–954. doi: 10.1006/bbrc.2000.4053
74
SalehiB.AzziniE.ZuccaP.Maria VaroniE. V.Anil KumarN.DiniL.et al. (2020). Plant-derived bioactives and oxidative stress-related disorders: a key trend towards healthy aging and longevity promotion. Appl. Sci.10:947. doi: 10.3390/app10030947
75
ScheibeR.BackhausenJ. E.EmmerlichV.HoltgrefeS. (2005). Strategies to maintain redox homeostasis during photosynthesis under changing conditions. J. Exp. Bot.56, 1481–1489. doi: 10.1093/jxb/eri181
76
SchieberM.ChandelN. S. (2014). ROS function in redox signalling and oxidative stress. Curr. Biol.24, R453–R462. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2014.03.034
77
SharmaP.JhaA. B.DubeyR. S.PessarakliM. (2012). Reactive oxygen species, oxidative damage, and antioxidant defence mechanism in plants under stressful conditions. J. Bot.2012:217037. doi: 10.1155/2012/217037
78
SiesH. (2018). On the history of oxidative stress: concept and some aspects of current development. Curr. Opin. Toxicol.7, 122–126. doi: 10.1016/j.cotox.2018.01.002
79
SiesH.BerndtC.JonesD. P. (2017). Oxidative stress. Ann. Rev. Boichem.86, 715–748. doi: 10.1146/annurev-biochem-061516-045037
80
SiesH.CadenasE. (1985). Oxidative stress: damage to intact cells and organs. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. Ser. B Biol. Sci.311, 617–631. doi: 10.1098/rstb.1985.0168
81
SmirnoffN. (2000). Ascorbic acid: metabolism and functions of a multi-facetted molecule. Curr. Opin. Plant Biol.3, 229–235. PMID:
82
SuzukiN.MillerG.MoralesJ.ShulaevV.TorresM. A.MittlerR. (2011). Respiratory burst oxidases: the engines of ROS signalling. Curr. Opin. Plant Biol.14, 691–699. doi: 10.1016/j.pbi.2011.07.014
83
SwansonS.GilroyS. (2010). ROS and plant development. Physiol. Plant.138, 384–392. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3054.2009.01313.x
84
TakahamaU. (2004). Oxidation of vacuolar and apoplastic phenolic substrates by peroxidase: the physiological significance of the oxidation reactions. Phytochem. Rev.3, 207–219. doi: 10.1023/B:PHYT.0000047805.08470.e3
85
TakahamaU.OnikiT. (1992). Regulation of peroxidase-dependent oxidation of phenolics in the apoplast of spinach leaves by ascorbate. Plant Cell Physiol.33, 379–387. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.pcp.a078265
86
TalaatN. B.HasanuzzamanM.FotopoulosV.NaharK.FujitaM. (2019). “Role of reactive oxygen species signalling in plant growth and development” in Reactive oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur species in plants. eds. HasanuzzamanH.FotopoulosV.NaharK.FujitaM. (United Kingdom: Wiley Blackwell), 225–266.
87
TrebstA. (2003). Function of β-carotene and tocopherol in photosystem II. Z. Naturforsch C. J. Biosci.58, 609–620. doi: 10.1515/znc-2003-9-1001
88
TriantaphylidèsC.HavauxM. (2009). Singlet oxygen in plants: production, detoxification and signaling. Trends Plant Sci.14, 219–228. doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2009.01.008
89
TruongT. H.CarrollK. S. (2013). Redox regulation of protein kinases. Crit. Rev. Biochem. Mol. Biol.48, 332–356. doi: 10.3109/10409238.2013.790873
90
Veljović-JovanovićS.KukavicaB.VidovićM.MorinaF.MenckhoffL. J. (2018). “Class III peroxidases: functions, localization and redox regulation of isoenzymes” in Antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes in higher plants. eds. GuptaD. K.PalmaJ. M.CorpasF. J. (Switzerland: Springer Nature), 269–300.
91
WachterA.WolfS.SteinigerH.BogsJ.RauschT. (2005). Differential targeting of GSH1 and GSH2 are achieved by multiple transcription initiation: implications for the compartmentation of glutathione biosynthesis in the Brassicaceae. Plant J.41, 15–30. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-313X.2004.02269.x
92
WelinderK. G. (1992). Superfamily of plant, fungal and bacterial peroxidases. Curr. Opin. Struct. Biol.2, 388–393. doi: 10.1016/0959-440X(92)90230-5
93
XiulanX.ZhouqingH.NifanC.ZizhongT.QiangW.YiC. (2019). The roles of environmental factors in the regulation of oxidative stress in the plant. Biomed. Res. Int.2019:9732325. doi: 10.1155/2019/9732325
94
YabutaY.MotokiT.YoshimuraK.TakedaT.IshikawaT.ShigeokaS. (2002). Thylakoid membrane-bound ascorbate peroxidase is a limiting factor of antioxidant systems under photo-oxidative stress. Plant J.32, 915–925. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-313x.2002.01476.x
95
YachandraV.SauerK.KleinM. (1996). Manganese cluster in photosynthesis: where plants oxidize water to dioxygen. Chem. Rev.96, 2927–2950. doi: 10.1021/cr950052k
96
ZlobinI. E.KartashovA. V.ShpakovskiG. V. (2017). Different roles of glutathione in copper and zinc chelation in Brassica napus roots. Plant Physiol. Biochem.118, 333–341. doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2017.06.029
Summary
Keywords
oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species, antioxidative defence system, cell, plants
Citation
Dumanović J, Nepovimova E, Natić M, Kuča K and Jaćević V (2021) The Significance of Reactive Oxygen Species and Antioxidant Defense System in Plants: A Concise Overview. Front. Plant Sci. 11:552969. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2020.552969
Received
17 April 2020
Accepted
02 December 2020
Published
06 January 2021
Volume
11 - 2020
Edited by
Julian Eaton-Rye, University of Otago, New Zealand
Reviewed by
Christine Helen Foyer, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom; Qiang-Sheng Wu, Yangtze University, China
Updates

Check for updates
Copyright
© 2021 Dumanović, Nepovimova, Natić, Kuča and Jaćević.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Kamil Kuča, kamil.kuca@uhk.cz;kamil.kuca@fnhk.czVesna Jaćević, v_jacevic@yahoo.com
†ORCID: Jelena Dumanović, orcid.org/0000-0002-8078-9878Eugenie Nepovimova, orcid.org/0000-0003-0281-246XMaja Natić, orcid.org/0000-0002-6610-297XKamil Kuča, orcid.org/0000-0001-9664-1109Vesna Jaćević, orcid.org/0000-0001-5137-2638
‡These authors have contributed equally to this work
This article was submitted to Plant Cell Biology, a section of the journal Frontiers in Plant Science
Disclaimer
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.