Metsulfuron-methyl is one of the widely used sulfonylurea herbicides. However, approximately half of the applied metsulfuron-methyl may remain as bound residues in soil. To characterize the response of rice plants to residual metsulfuron-methyl in soil, the activities of acetolactate synthase (ALS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) were investigated in two rice varieties that differed in susceptibility to the herbicide. Changes in the activity of these enzymes in leaves and roots of Xiushui 63, a sensitive rice variety, were greater than those in a resistant variety Zhenong 952. Irrespective of variety, changes in the enzyme activity were greater in the roots than in the leaves. The activities of ALS and CAT decreased, while the SOD activity increased with the increase in the amounts of bound residues of metsulfuron-methyl (BRM) in soil. The POD activity increased at the BRM level of 0.025 mg kg-1, but decreased at the BRM level of 0.05 mg kg-1. The results showed that the bound residues of sulfonylurea herbicides may affect metabolism of rice plants.