# From the Literature on Mining to Computational Verification: A Review of the Anti-Radiation Mechanisms of Sulfur Compounds in the Seeds of Lepidium apetalum Willd and Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl

## TL;DR

This paper reviews natural sulfur compounds in two cruciferous plants and their potential to protect against radiation by regulating a key biological pathway.

## Contribution

The paper proposes and computationally supports a novel mechanism of radiation protection via sulfur compounds and the PI3K/AKT pathway.

## Key findings

- Lepidium apetalum and Descurainia sophia seeds are rich in sulfur compounds with potential anti-radiation properties.
- Molecular docking analysis supports the hypothesis that these compounds regulate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
- Specific sulfur compounds like glucotropaeolin and gluconapin show greater potential for radiation protection.

## Abstract

Compounds containing sulfur are the primary components of anti-radiation drugs and represent a key focus in the innovative design and discovery of pharmaceuticals. The adverse effects of synthetic sulfur-containing radiation protective agents are significant concerns that cannot be overlooked. It is imperative to identify natural sulfur compounds that exhibit low toxicity and high efficacy as radiation protection agents. Cruciferous plants demonstrate notable resistance to ionizing radiation. The literature review revealed that Lepidii semen and Descurainiae semen, both of which are rich in sulfur compounds and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway regulates radiation-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. We speculate that the sulfur compounds of the Lepidii semen and Descurainiae semen may exert radiation protection by regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and this hypothesis was supported by molecular docking analysis. The sulfur compounds (glucotropaeolin, gluconapin, glucoiberverin, glucocappasalin, tropeolin, etc.) demonstrate greater potential.