Plant metabolism of xenobiotics

Trends Biochem Sci. 1992 Feb;17(2):82-4. doi: 10.1016/0968-0004(92)90507-6.

Abstract

Metabolism of foreign chemicals (xenobiotics) by plants generally proceeds in three phases: transformation, conjugation and compartmentation. The participating enzymes have numerous similarities not only to the enzymes of normal secondary plant metabolism, but also to those of xenobiotic metabolism in mammalian liver. Plants may therefore be considered as a 'green liver', acting as an important global sink for environmental chemicals.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / metabolism
  • Enzyme Induction
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Plants / metabolism*
  • Transferases / metabolism
  • Xenobiotics / metabolism*

Substances

  • Xenobiotics
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Transferases