Oxidative Stress in Roots: Detection of Lipid Peroxidation and Total Antioxidative Capacity

Various abiotic and biotic agents disturb the fine balance between cellular oxidants and antioxidants. The resulting oxidative stress occurs either due to the increasing levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) or weak antioxidative system that cannot scavenge ROS burst. In addition to their harmful role, ROS can also act as signaling molecules, and oxidative stress is often the initial step in the programmed cell death. Here we describe two parameters of oxidative stress that can be measured spectrophotometrically: lipid peroxidation via the content of the by-product malondialdehyde, and the amount of all non-enzymatic antioxidants named as total antioxidative capacity. Both methods are presented using young radish (Raphanus sativus) seedlings after treatment with extract from the invasive plant species Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica).