Studii şi Cercetări Ştiinţifice Chimie şi Inginerie Chimică, Biotehnologii, Industrie Alimentară 2019, 20 (2), pp. 237 – 252 ISSN 1582-540X Scientific Study & Research Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology, Food Industry © 2019 ALMA MATER Publishing House, “VASILE ALECSANDRI” University of Bacău. All rights reserved. 237 ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER BIOCHEMICAL AND ENZYMATIC CHARACTERIZATION OF MACROPHYTE PLANT PHRAGMITES AUSTRALIS AFFECTED BY ZINC OXIDE Fadila Khaldi 1,2* , Khaoula Menaiaia 1,2 , Nourhene Ouartane 2 , Nedjoud Grara 3 1 Mohamed Cherif Messaadia University of Souk-Ahras, Laboratory of Sciences and Technology of Water and Environment, PO Box 1553, 41000, Souk Ahras, Algeria 2 Mohamed Cherif Messaadia University of Souk-Ahras, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Department of Biology, PO Box 1553, 41000, Souk-Ahras, Algeria 3 Université 8 Mai 1945 Guelma, Faculté des Sciences de la Nature et de la Vie et Sciences de la Terre et de l’Univers, BP 401, Guelma 24000, Algeria *Corresponding author: khaldifad@yahoo.fr Received: September, 19, 2018 Accepted: June, 03, 2019 Abstract: The research aimed to understand the behavior of aquatic plants subjected to xenobiotics, a macrophyte plant Phragmites australis from the region of Souk-Ahras, is treated with three concentrations based on zinc oxide (ZnO) (3, 6 and 12 nmol·mL -1 ) for 7, 14 and 21 days. A measurement of certain biochemical and enzymatic parameters characteristic of oxidative stress allowed us to evaluate not only the effect of zinc oxide but also the behavior of Phragmites australis subjected to this nanometric molecule. The statistical analysis of the results obtained showed no significant differences in all the parameters measured, between leaves and roots. The results of the analysis of heavy metals in wastewater, revealed values lower than the Algerian norm with the exception of Zn. On the other hand, we noticed a high concentration of Zn and a low concentration of Fe and Pb. This result makes it possible to conclude that the wastewater is characterized by a pollution of the metallic type loaded with partially degradable effluents. Keywords: enzymatic activity, heavy metals, oxidative stress, Phragmites australis, phytoremediation, wastewater, ZnO