Abstract: The effects of different concentrations of 17β-estradiol (17β-E2) on seed germination, seedling growth, antioxidant enzyme system and 17β-E2 accumulation in radish (Raphanus sativus) were investigated using water culture method. The results indicated that the germinating potentiality, germination rate and root elongation of radish presented the inverse correlation with 17β-E2 treatment. The germinating potentiality and root elongation of radish were obviously increased and activities of SOD, POD and CAT of radish were significantly enhanced by 17β-E2 at levels of 10 μg/L. The 50 μg/L 17β-E2 treatment inhibited the activities of SOD, POD and CAT and significantly stimulated an increase in the content of MDA. It made seedling oxidation resistance significantly decrease and finally resulted in aggravate of the lipid peroxidation. With rising treatment concentration, the content of 17β-E2 accumulated in seedlings was increased. The content of 17β-E2 in the root was larger than that in aerial part. In the transportation process, 17β-E2 was partly metabolized into the low active estrone in radish. The experiments revealed that radish showed a certain tolerance to 17β-E2 stress, so there was a potential food risk posed to mankind health for radish growing in estrogen-contaminated soils.