COMPARACIÓNDELACAPACIDADDEREMOCIÓNDE FENANTRENOYLA ACTIVIDADENZIMÁTICARADICALSUPERFICIALDECULTIVOSRADICALES (in toto e in vitro) DE Cyperus elegans

Abstract

The radical systems may concentrate
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, because
these compounds are highly lipophilic and
hydrophobic, and with it, it can take place
the first step involved in a removal process
assisted by plants. These contaminants
once immobilized on roots can change their
structures to simple compounds as an
important mechanism for their detoxification. This study evaluated the fenoloxidases
activity of the radical system of a swamp
species Cyperus elegans, from in toto and
in vitro root cultures exposed to
phenanthrene, a polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbon highly toxic for environment,
for the physiological analysis of these
radical systems as a useful tools for the
removal and transformation of organic
contaminants. Although the remotion of
phenanthrene by the radical systems of C.
elegans was 32%, an increase of the activity
of the radical enzymes was induced by the
presence of this contaminant and it
suggests that these radical systems would
be possible sources of phenoloxidases and
might participate directly on the transformation oforganic compounds, particularlywith
polycyclic aromatics.