Abstract: Background　Ferroptosis in nucleus pulposus cells plays a crucial role in intervertebral disc degeneration, and sulforaphane (SFN), a natural compound, is known for its antioxidant properties.Objective　To analyze the effects of sulforaphane (SFN) on Erastin-induced ferroptosis in nucleus pulposus cells and evaluate its regulation of cell viability and antioxidant capacity. Methods　Human nucleus pulposus cells were used as the study subjects and treated with different groups, including a control group, Erastin-treated group, and SFN intervention groups (2.5 μmol/L to 40 μmol/L). Cell morphology, death rate, ROS levels, cell viability, and antioxidant capacity were assessed using optical microscopy, flow cytometry, CCK-8 assay, and Western blotting. Results　In the Erastin-treated group, cells exhibited increased volume, morphological changes, and significant cell death with elevated ROS levels, indicating successful induction of ferroptosis in nucleus pulposus cells. Flow cytometry analysis showed a significant increase in PI+ cell proportion after Erastin treatment, rising from (5.11 ± 0.04)% in the control group to (10.11 ± 0.58)%. However, the PI+ cell proportion in the SFN 5 μmol/L and 10 μmol/L groups significantly decreased to (5.08 ± 0.44)% and (3.38 ± 0.32)%, respectively, with the 10 μmol/L SFN group showing a significantly lower proportion compared to the 5 μmol/L SFN group (P < 0.001). These results indicate that SFN at certain concentrations can significantly inhibit Erastin-induced ferroptosis, with 10 μmol/L SFN showing the most significant effect in reducing PI+ cells. Western blot analysis further confirmed that 10 μmol/L SFN treatment effectively enhanced the expression of Nrf2 and restored the expression of Collagen Ⅱ , GPX4, and SLC7A11 proteins, reversing the protein expression decline caused by Erastin treatment. Conclusion　Sulforaphane can enhance the antioxidant capacity of nucleus pulposus cells and inhibit Erastin-induced ferroptosis, thereby maintaining cell viability. This provides experimental evidence for sulforaphane as a potential therapeutic strategy for intervertebral disc degeneration.