Abstract

Plants have evolved complex defense mechanisms in response to xenobiotics, and gain the concept of the ‘‘green liver” by analogy with the detoxication role of the liver in animal organisms and present other detoxication mechanisms; particularly the xenobiotic oxidation by plant roots. This review focused on two kinds of oxido-reductase enzymes: peroxidases and laccases, regarding their importance and application as metabolic tools from plants to transform organic contaminants.

Key word: Phytoremediation, plant roots, peroxidases, laccases.