| Summary: | Heavy metals (including Cadmium) are being entered into the environment through various sources and cause toxicity to plants. Response of <i>Brassica juncea</i> L. var. RLC-1 was evaluated after exposing them to different concentration of cadmium (Cd) for seven days. Seeds of <i>B. juncea</i> were treated with different concentrations of Cd like 0.2−0.6 mM for 7 days, allowing them to grow in Petri-dishes, and seedlings were examined for different physiological responses. Following exposure to Cd, in the seedlings of <i>B. juncea,</i> growth parameters (root and shoot length), stress markers (lipid peroxidation and H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> content), secondary metabolites, photosynthetic pigments, and ion analysis, were estimated along with enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. We observed a significant reduction in root and shoot length after Cd treatment as compared to control seedlings. Malondialdehyde and H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> contents were increased accompanied by enhanced Cd uptake. Activities of antioxidative enzymes were also significantly altered following Cd exposure to the seedlings of <i>B. juncea</i>. Conclusively, we suggest that Cd exposure to the seedlings triggered an induction of several defense responses in <i>B. juncea</i> including major metabolites.
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