The hydropersulfide (RSSH) functional group has received significant recent interest due to its unique chemical properties that set it apart from other biological species. The chemistry of RSSH predicts that one possible biological role may be as a protectant against cellular oxidative and electrophilic stress. That is, RSSH has reducing and nucleophilic properties that may combat the potentially destructive biochemistry of toxicologically relevant oxidants and electrophiles. However, there are currently numerous other molecules that have established roles in this regard. For example, ascorbate and tocopherols are potent antioxidants that quench deleterious oxidative reactions and glutathione (GSH) is a well-established and highly prevalent biological protectant against electrophile toxicity. Thus, in order to begin to understand the possible role of RSSH species as protectants against oxidative/electrophilic stress, the inherent chemical properties of RSSH versus these other protectants will be discussed and contrasted.

氢过硫化物（RSSH）官能团由于其独特的化学性质而使其与其他生物物种区分开来，最近引起了人们的极大兴趣。RSSH的化学性质预测，一种可能的生物学作用可能是作为针对细胞氧化和亲电子应激的保护剂。也就是说，RSSH具有还原和亲核特性，可以与毒理学上相关的氧化剂和亲电子试剂的潜在破坏性生物化学作斗争。但是，目前还有许多其他分子在这方面已发挥作用。例如，抗坏血酸酯和生育酚是有效的抗氧化剂，可终止有害的氧化反应，而谷胱甘肽（GSH）是一种公认​​的，高度流行的针对亲电子试剂的生物保护剂。从而，