Specific inhibition of human β‐D‐glucuronidase and α‐L‐iduronidase by a trihydroxy pipecolic acid of plant origin

The glucuronic acid analogue of 1‐deoxynojirimycin, 2(S)‐carboxy‐3(R), 4(R), 5(S)‐trihydroxypiperidine, recently isolated from seeds of Baphia racemosa, is a novel specific inhibitor of human liver β‐D‐glucuronidase and α‐L‐iduronidase. No other glycosidases are inhibited. The inhibition of β‐D‐glucuronidase is competitive, with a K i of 8 × 10−5 M and is pH‐dependent. This inhibitor may be useful to induce a mucopolysaccharidosis or to investigate the function of microsomal β‐D‐glucoronidase.