Antioxidant-Mediated Mitigation of Cadmium Stress by ZnO Nanoparticles in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Heavy metal pollution, especially cadmium (Cd), induces oxidative stress in plants. This study examined the protective role of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs, ۵۰ mg.L¹) against Cd toxicity in tomato. Spectrophotometric assays measured catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and total oxidant status (TOS). Cd elevated CAT to ۱۱.۰۲ U.mg protein, while NPs reduced it by ۲۹%. SOD rose ۷۰% under Cd and ۷۶% under NPs, reaching ۴۰.۷ U.mg combined. MDA increased ۲۱% under Cd but fell ۲۱.۵% with NPs. TOS increased ۹.۸% under Cd but decreased ۱۴.۶% with NPs. ZnO NPs enhanced antioxidant balance and reduced Cd toxicity.

کلیدواژه ها:

ZnO nanoparticles ، Cadmium toxicity ، Antioxidant enzymes ، Oxidative stress