Catalase activity of herbs in conditions of urban environment pollution

Pollutants entering plants cells are able to cause biochemical malfunction, including lipid peroxidation, which leads to the change in antioxidant system activity. Sustaining redox balance in cells is a required condition of plants survival in conditions of anthropogenic pollution. The goal of this research was the investigation of catalase activity in meadow grass, wild vetch, red clover, coltsfoot and chamomile near various factories of Tyumen. Plants were gathered near the highway as well as close to the metallurgical plant, engine factory, oil refinery and accumulator plants. The change in catalase activity in the cells of plants turned out to be species-specific. The decrease in catalase activity was observed in the meadow grass and wild vetch cells, while in coltsfoot, red clover and chamomile both decrease and increase in enzyme activity was obtained. Pollutants from all the examined factories affected more or less on the catalase activity, but the greatest effect was registered near the metallurgical factory, that probably related to high heavy metal concentration in plants. The lowest effect on catalase activity, compared to control, was observed near the highway.